Grant Summary: FRA Railroad Crossing Elimination (Crossing Safety) Program

USDOT Discretionary Grants Opportunity

RCE Application Deadline

• Monday, June 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT

The Railroad Crossing Elimination (Crossing Safety) Program, administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), offers $1.15 billion in funding for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025 and 2026 for projects that improve safety and mobility at highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossings. 

The program focuses on eliminating or mitigating the safety risks, mobility constraints and community impacts associated with at-grade rail crossings, including blocked crossings, train-vehicle conflicts and emergency access delays. This summary highlights eligible projects, applicants, funding and match requirements, evaluation criteria, and key application requirements. Applicants should reference the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for complete details.

Changes from Previous NOFO 

Key changes and clarifications in the FY 2025-2026 NOFO compared to prior funding cycles include:

• Greater Emphasis on Lifecycle Phasing: Capital projects must be more explicitly aligned with FRA’s Railroad Capital Project Lifecycle Guidance.
• Expanded Grade Crossing Data Requirements: Applications must include a detailed grade crossing table.
• Renewed Focus on Blocked Crossings and Community Impacts: FRA explicitly highlights blocked crossing reduction, emergency response access, community connectivity and quality-of-life impacts as selection priorities.
• Updated Policy and Compliance Language: FY25-26 NOFO reflects updated federal policy directives related to anti-discrimination compliance, Buy America requirements, cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience, and innovation priorities.

Total Funding Available

Up to $1.15 billion is available nationally under the FY25-26 Crossing Safety NOFO, subject to appropriations. 

Special Funding Set-Asides 

• Planning Projects
   
  • At least $36 million (3%) reserved for planning, environmental review and design activities.
  • $9 million of planning funds reserved for rural areas or Tribal Lands.
• Rural or Tribal Set-Aside
   
  • At least 20% ($229.3 million) reserved for projects primarily located in Rural Area or on Tribal Lands.
  • At least 5% of this set-aside reserved for counties with ≤ 20 residents per square mile, subject to sufficient eligible applications.
• Safety Education & Outreach
   
  • At least $3 million reserved for highway-rail grade crossing safety information and education programs.

Award Size and Match Requirements

• Minimum Award
   
  • $1 million, except for 0lanning-only or safety education projects
• Maximum Award
   
  • No stated maximum, but no more than 20% of total available funds may be awarded to projects in a single state
• Federal Cost Share
   
  • Up to 80% federal, with a minimum of 20% non-federal

Non-federal match sources must be clearly identified and expended concurrently with federal funds.

Eligible Applicants

• A state or U.S. territory
• A political subdivision of a state
• A federally recognized Indian Tribe
• A unit or group of local governments
• A public port authority
• A metropolitan panning organization (MPO)
• A group of eligible entities (with a designated lead applicant)

The lead applicant, if selected, will serve as the grant recipient.

Eligible Projects

Eligible activities must directly improve safety and/or mobility at highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossings. Eligible project types include, but are not limited to:

• Grade separation or closure, including bridges, tunnels, embankments, or combinations thereof
• Track relocation to eliminate or consolidate grade crossings
• Protective devices and warning improvements, when directly related to a separation or relocation project
• Technological solutions that improve safety or mobility at grade crossings
• Corridor-wide crossing improvement programs
• Planning, environmental review, and design of an eligible capital project
• Highway-rail grade crossing safety information and education programs

Commuter rail projects are statutorily eligible; however, FRA will transfer administration of those projects to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Systems planning and operations activities are not eligible under this program.

FRA encourages applicants proposing highway-rail grade crossing projects under CRISI to also apply under the Crossing Safety program. Failure to do so many be viewed negatively during CRISI evaluation, particularly where Crossing Safety funds would be more appropriate.

Project Lifecycle and Phasing

All capital projects must align with FRA’s Railroad Capital Project Lifecycle Stages, which include:

• Project Planning
• Project Development (PE/NEPA)
• Final Design
• Right-of-Way Acquisition (Construction requests only)
• Construction

FRA intends to obligate funding by lifecycle phase, and advancement to subsequent phases is contingent upon satisfactory performance, compliance and readiness.

Evaluation Criteria

FRA will evaluate complete and eligible applications using the following criteria:

1. Project Readiness
    
   • Status of NEPA and environmental review
   • Agreement status with railroads and property owners
   • Readiness to deliver the requested lifecycle stage
   • Partner coordination and committed funding
2. Technical Merit
    
   • Soundness of project approach and design
   • Applicant experience and capacity
   • Use of innovative technologies or delivery approaches
   • Financial, legal and technical feasibility
3. Project Benefits
    
   • Improved safety at highway-rail or pathway-rail crossings
   • Reduction or elimination of blocked crossings
   • Improved mobility for people and goods
   • Access to emergency services
   • Community connectivity and quality-of-life benefits
   • Environmental benefits, including emissions and noise reduction

Selection Preferences

After merit scoring, FRA may give preference to projects that:

• Result in one or more grade separations
• Close crossings through track relocation
• Implement corridor-wide crossing strategies
• Include final design and construction
• Advance previously funded Crossing Safety lifecycle phases

Application Requirements

Applicants must be submitted through Grants.gov and include:

• Project narrative (≤ 25 pages)
• Statement of work and schedule
• Lifecycle-based project budget tables
• Grade crossing inventory table with geospatial coordinates
• Geospatial data and project mapping
• SF-424 and required federal forms
• Supporting documentation (letters of support, agreements, planning, engineering)

Early coordination with host railroads and documentation of agreements is strongly encouraged.

Our funding, finance and grant professionals stand by ready to support and advise project sponsors applying for funding from the Crossing Safety program.