The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program, or CRISI, funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. For civil engineering firms such as Firm owners, CRISI can support public agencies and other eligible applicants planning rail improvements, preparing applications, and delivering funded projects.
The program is authorized under Section 11301 of the FAST Act and 49 U.S.C. 22907. The official CRISI page links to the FY 2025-2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which applicants should consult for current requirements.
What it funds
CRISI supports a broad range of rail and related projects. Eligible work includes railroad safety technology, capital improvements for intercity passenger rail, and projects that address rail congestion or improve short-line and regional railroad infrastructure. The program also covers highway-rail grade crossing improvements, rail line relocation and improvements, and regional rail or corridor service development plans and environmental analyses.
Other eligible areas include multimodal connections, trespass prevention, and workforce development. A proposed project must fit the NOFO's eligibility and application requirements. Check the official program page and NOFO to confirm that a specific scope qualifies.
Who applies
Eligible applicants include states, including the District of Columbia, groups of states, interstate compacts, public agencies, and political subdivisions. Amtrak and other intercity passenger rail carriers may also apply, as may Class II and Class III railroads and federally recognized Indian tribes.
Rail carriers and equipment manufacturers can apply in partnership with a public entity. Consultants do not apply for CRISI on behalf of an agency. The eligible applicant develops and submits the grant application and, if selected, is responsible for the project.
Award size and funding available
Applicants should check the official program page and NOFO for those details and any limits that apply to their project.
Past funding totals provide context, but do not predict the amount available in a future cycle. The FY 2023-2024 NOFO listed $2,478,391,050 available for award. For FY 2022, the available amount was $1,427,462,902.
Cycle and current status
The program uses competitive funding notices. Check the official program page for the current status, deadline, application instructions, and any updates. Do not rely on a past cycle's dates for a current application.
Earlier rounds selected projects in multiple states. In FY 2023-2024, 122 projects in 41 states and the District of Columbia were selected. In FY 2021, 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia were selected. In FY 2020, 50 projects in 29 states were selected.
How consultants win the design work
Agencies and other eligible applicants pursue CRISI funding. Consultants are selected separately by the project owner through its procurement process. Depending on the project and solicitation, Firm owners can provide planning, benefit-cost analysis, and grant-writing support where allowed, followed by design and construction-phase services.
Procurement rules apply. The owner should define the needed services, follow its applicable selection and contracting requirements, and avoid treating a grant award as a consultant contract. Confirm the relevant requirements with the owner and in the official program materials.
What owners should do now
- Review the official CRISI page and FY 2025-2026 NOFO for current status, deadlines, eligibility, and application instructions.
- Check that the applicant and proposed project fit the program's eligible-recipient and project categories.
- Develop a clear project scope, supporting information, and benefit-cost analysis consistent with the NOFO.
- Plan consultant procurement under the owner's applicable rules, covering the services needed for application, design, and construction.
Official program page: https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/competitive-discretionary-grant-programs/consolidated-rail-infrastructure-and-safety-2. Check it for current notices of funding opportunity before advising a client.
