Tag: FRA

April 4, 2024

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently issued a final rule that establishes minimum safety requirements, stipulating a second crewmember on all trains. The final rule codifies train crew staffing rules at a federal level, and closes a loophole that allowed […]

March 18, 2024

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) said it had awarded nearly $1 million in grants to support multi-state and regional passenger rail service efforts. The $900,000 in Interstate Rail Compacts (IRC) Grants, part of the […]

December 8, 2023

The Federal Railroad Administration is awarding $8.2 billion in grants for high-speed passenger rail projects as well as projects supporting capital improvements in existing rail corridors. While the Class I railroads generally fund their own track improvements, freight rail service […]

November 8, 2023

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced it had awarded more than $16 billion to 25 passenger rail projects along the Northeast Corridor between Boston, Mass., and Washington, D.C. The funding, part of the Bipartisan […]

November 6, 2023

The Federal Railroad Administration is awarding $16.4 billion to 25 passenger rail projects in seven states where the Northeast Corridor runs between Boston and Washington. Some of these projects will also help facilitate the movement of freight goods via rail […]

September 20, 2023

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will soon make available $139 million in Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) grant program funding. “This funding will create jobs, grow local economies, and increase rail safety and efficiency in states where geography and other circumstances […]

March 30, 2023

An early Thursday morning derailment involving a BNSF train near Raymond, Minnesota, led to an evacuation of area residents within a half-mile of the site. The train was carrying 22 rail cars of mixed freight, including ethanol and corn syrup. […]

February 27, 2023

The Biden administration recently announced a slew of actions it plans to take aimed at improving rail safety in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. But depending on an upcoming decision from the Federal […]

December 15, 2022

Railroads and unions gave conflicting views during a hearing by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on a proposed rulemaking that would require freight trains generally to have at least two crew members in the locomotive cab. The agency is gathering […]

July 29, 2022

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced it had issued a proposed rule on crew requirements for safety purposes. The new requirement would require two train crewmembers for over-the-road railroad operations, with some exceptions for […]

August 30, 2021

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) officials said the agency has earmarked nearly $362 million to aid railroad improvements via its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program. “CRISI is an opportunity to invest in safety and economic progress across […]

May 18, 2020

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a quarterly status update on railroads’ self-reported progress, as of March 31, toward fully implementing positive train control (PTC) systems by Dec. 31, 2020, as required by Congress. Based on railroads’ First Quarter 2020 […]

May 6, 2020

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced more than $22 million in grant funding to three projects that collectively span eight states. Funding is provided through FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grants Program to initiate, restore, or enhance intercity passenger rail […]

September 12, 2017

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced the completion of the Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the 123-mile section of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor from Washington, D.C., to south […]