Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail — National Program

USDOT Federal Railroad Administration Discretionary Grants Opportunity

Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

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The Federal-State Partnership (FSP) for Intercity Passenger Rail program, also known as the National Railroad Partnership Program, provides funding for capital projects that reduce the state of good repair backlog, improve performance, or expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service, including privately operated intercity passenger rail service, if an eligible applicant is involved.

The September 22, 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 addresses funding available and application requirements for intercity passenger rail projects located across the nation, outside the Northeast Corridor (NEC).

Eligible Capital Projects include projects or groups of related projects that:

• Replace, rehabilitate, or repair infrastructure, equipment, or a facility used for providing intercity passenger rail service to bring such assets into a state of good repair
• Improve intercity passenger rail service performance, including reduced trip times, increased train frequencies, higher operating speeds, improved reliability, expanded capacity, reduced congestion, electrification and other improvements
• Expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service
• Planning, environmental review and final design of eligible projects

Projects on a shared corridor with freight and/or commuter rail must demonstrate how the proposed project benefits intercity passenger rail transportation independent of benefits to other transportation purposes.

Changes from Previous FY24 NOFO

The FY 2024 NOFO was originally published on September 30, 2024, and withdrawn on September 22, 2025, prior to award selections being announced. This updated NOFO aims to re-advertise FY 2024 funding, adds FY 2025 funding, and includes the following changes:

• Removes references to rescinded Executive Orders
• Aligns the NOFO with new Executive Orders
• Updates evaluation and selection criteria
• Removes the use of project tracks to reduce duplication with FRA project Lifecycle Stages
• Updates the organization of the NOFO and use of references to the FRA website, to comply with recent changes to 2 CFR Part 200 Appendix I

Program Objectives

Grant awards funded through this program will support projects that enhance safety, reduce the state of good repair backlog, improve performance, or expand or establish new intercity passenger rail service. FRA funds seek to prioritize support and assistance for projects that are consistent with the role of the federal government, have strong co-funding requirements, adhere faithfully to all federal statutory Buy America requirements and do not depend on continuous or future USDOT support or assistance for improvements or ongoing maintenance.

FRA expects the outcomes of selected projects to include:

• Safety and High-Performing Core Assets: Restore and modernize core assets to improve the state of good repair, enhance system resiliency and increase safety.
• Expansion and New Services: Invest in the expansion of existing long-distance services and passenger rail routes operated by public and private partners, as well as investment in new passenger rail corridors.
• System Reliability and Connectivity: Improve system operations to reduce trip time and delays, manage travel demand, improve connectivity.

Eligible uses of funds include:

• Real estate acquisition
• Planning
• Project development, including preliminary
  engineering (PE) and environmental
  review activities
• Final design
• Construction

Pre-construction activities are eligible for funding independently or in conjunction with proposed funding for construction. Projects that include project development may include engineering drawings and specifications; design criteria, schematics, and/or track charts that support the development of PE; and work that can be funded in conjunction with developing PE, such as operations modeling, surveying, project work/management plans, preliminary cost estimates, and preliminary project schedules. Project development funded under this NOFO must be sufficiently developed when complete to support final design or construction activities.

Project Lifecycle Stages

FRA strongly encourages applicants to align eligible projects with the Lifecycle Stages outlined in FRA's Railroad Capital Project Guidance:

• Systems Planning
• Project Planning
• Project Development
• Final Design
• Construction

Development stages include project planning and project development. Implementation stages include final design and construction.

Funding Availability

This opportunity offers $5.07 billion in funding. There is no minimum or maximum award amount. There is a maximum federal share of 80%. The minimum 20% non-federal share may be comprised of public sector (e.g., state or local) or private sector funding. Amtrak may use its ticket and other non-federal revenues generated from its operations and other sources to satisfy the non-federal share requirements. Previously incurred costs or encumbered funds will not be allowed to be included in the matching requirement. The program includes unique provisions allowing major capital projects with an estimated cost greater than $500 million and a proposed federal share of at least $100 million to request funding over multiple years. For projects in the Planning and Project Development stages, FRA may issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) to obligate funding from future budget authority in support of a Final Design and Construction. For projects anticipated to enter Final Design or Construction stages within two years of application, FRA may use a Phased Funding Agreement (PFA) to obligate funding and commit future-year budget authority for Construction, provided funding is available and terms and conditions of the PFA are met.

Eligible Applicants

The following entities are eligible to apply for funding through this program:

• A state (including the District of Columbia)
• A group of states
• An Interstate Compact
• A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more states
• A political subdivision of a state
• Amtrak, acting on its own behalf or under a cooperative agreement with one or more states
• A federally recognized Indian Tribe
• Any combination of the entities described above

Private operators of intercity passenger rail may partner with an eligible entity, but the eligible entity must be the party legally responsible for management and administration of the federal grant and ultimate project delivery.

Evaluation Criteria

FRA will evaluate applications to determine technical merit and project benefits.

Technical Merit

1. Alignment of Statement of Work with achievement of expected project outcomes
2. The technical qualifications of key personnel and qualifications of the primary and supporting organizations to execute the project
3. Business plan consideration of private sector participation in the financing, construction, or operation of the proposed project
4. Legal, financial, and technical capacity of sponsor, access to equipment/facilities, and capacity to maintain equipment/facilities
5. Degree to which applicant or project deploys innovative technology, encourage innovative approaches to delivery, and incentivize use of innovative financing
6. Consistency with USDOT and other legally required planning guidance and documents

Project Benefits

FRA will evaluate a Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) of each proposed project. BCA documentation should be consistent with USDOT's Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs. For Project Planning and Project Development applications, a qualitative BCA is required. The BCA should address:

1. Effects on system and service performance
2. Effects on safety (improvements in grade crossing)
3. Effects on competitiveness, reliability, trip or transit time and other impacts
4. Effects of anticipated positive economic and employment impacts, development in areas near passenger stations, historic districts, or other opportunity zones
5. Efficiencies from improved integration with other modes
6. Ability to meet existing or anticipated demand

Selection Criteria

FRA will give preference to eligible projects:

1. For which Amtrak is not the sole applicant
2. That improve the financial performance, reliability, service frequency, or address the state of good repair of an Amtrak route
3. That are identified in, and consistent with, a corridor inventory prepared under the Corridor Identification and Development Program
4. Demonstrate an ability to foster a safe transportation system for the movement of goods and people or reduce transportation-related facilities and serious injuries across the transportation system

FRA is interested in supporting projects that align with the Administration's focus on the American family and ensuring a more seamless travel experience. Applicants are encouraged to include eligible components in their proposed intercity passenger rail station projects that focus on enhancing the experience for traveling families, including adding mothers' rooms, expanding waiting areas, adding new family restrooms, creating children's play areas and other projects improving overall travel for families.

Application Requirements

The following sections must be included in the application submission:

• Project narrative not to exceed 25 pages
• Statement of Work using FRA-identified templates
• Benefit-cost analysis
• Environmental compliance documentation, as applicable
• Funding commitment supporting documentation
• Draft 49 USC 22905(c)(l) agreement between the applicant and host railroad, as applicable
• Standard forms and FRA forms as identified in the NOFO