Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JJ320NF00005
The Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) Grants program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Under Funding Opportunity Number 693JJ320NF00005 (CFDA 20.205), FHWA announced up to $50,000,000 in one-time funding to support construction projects that reduce or eliminate hazards at public railway-highway crossings. The overarching focus is rail crossing safety, with an emphasis on tangible infrastructure changes that can lower the risk of crashes and improve overall system performance.
The program is designed around several related safety and mobility goals. First, it aims to improve safety at public railway-highway crossings specifically by removing or mitigating hazardous conditions. Second, it targets measurable reductions in fatalities, serious injuries, and crashes at these crossings. Third, it seeks to reduce the number of existing public at-grade crossings, either by closing crossings where appropriate or by replacing at-grade conflicts with grade separation. Finally, it also recognizes the operational and safety problems caused by blocked crossings, supporting solutions that reduce delays or improve performance where idling trains obstruct grade crossings and create downstream hazards for roadway users and emergency response.
Eligible projects are limited to construction activities that directly eliminate crossing hazards. The solicitation highlights four allowable project types: (1) grade separation or protection improvements at crossings (for example, separating rail and roadway traffic or installing protective measures that meaningfully improve safety), (2) reconstruction of existing railroad grade crossing structures, (3) relocation of highways to remove a grade crossing entirely, and (4) projects at grade crossings that specifically address hazards created by blocked crossings due to idling trains. A notable flexibility built into the program is that the proposed project does not have to be located at the exact site of a past accident investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Instead, applicants can select project locations based on their own assessment of need and expected safety benefit, as long as the work fits the eligible categories and the applicant meets the program eligibility rules.
Applicant eligibility is intentionally narrow. The primary eligible applicant is a "commuter authority" as defined in 49 U.S.C. 24102, meaning a state, local, or regional entity established to provide (or contract for) commuter rail passenger transportation. In addition to meeting that definition, the commuter authority must have experienced at least one accident that was investigated by the NTSB between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2018, and for which the NTSB issued an accident report. The opportunity also allows a public or non-profit entity to apply if it is partnering with an eligible commuter authority, effectively enabling joint applications where another organization leads or supports delivery while the commuter authority anchors eligibility.
The funding structure includes a required non-federal cost share. Applicants must provide at least 10 percent of the total project cost, meaning federal funds can cover up to 90 percent. FHWA also encourages applicants to coordinate with their State Department of Transportation (State DOT) wherever feasible. In some cases, FHWA notes that awards may be made to State DOTs as pass-through entities that administer the funding and provide subawards to implement the federal program, which can be helpful when a State DOT is better positioned to manage contracting, compliance, or project delivery.
For applicant support, FHWA scheduled an informational webinar on September 10, 2020 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Attendance was optional and not required to submit an application, but it was intended to clarify requirements and answer questions. Registration required emailing Sarah.Tarpgaard@DOT.gov with the participant's name, title, organization, and email by September 9, 2020, after which FHWA would send the webinar link to registered participants. The original application closing date listed for the opportunity was October 26, 2020, and prospective applicants were directed to the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the related documents section for complete program details and instructions.Apply for 693JJ320NF00005
- The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.205.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-08-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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