Capital Assistance to States – Intercity Passenger Rail Service
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
To provide financial assistance to fund capital improvements (and related planning activities) necessary to support improved or new intercity passenger rail service.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- State
To be eligible for this assistance, States must include intercity passenger rail service as an integral part of statewide transportation planning as required under section 135 of title 23, United States Code. To be eligible for capital assistance, the specific project must be on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan at the time of the application to qualify. State departments of transportation and other public agencies, although private transportation companies may participate through contractual arrangements with a State department of transportation.
Beneficiaries
- For-Profit Organization
- State
To be eligible for this assistance, States must include intercity passenger rail service as an integral part of statewide transportation planning as required under section 135 of title 23, United States Code. To be eligible for capital assistance, the specific project must be on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan at the time of the application to qualify. State departments of transportation and other public agencies, although private transportation companies may participate through contractual arrangements with a State department of transportation.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Review the application package to ensure that all required documents are complete and signed by the appropriate person. Review the statement of work (SOW) and budget to ensure the appropriation language requirements are met. Review SOW for technical issues and budget for appropriate costs, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and related laws and orders. Compare applications to determine relative satisfaction of published selection criteria. Select the applicants that are most qualified. After the application package is acceptable to both parties, a grant agreement is drafted, reviewed, and signed upon agreement by both parties.
FRA is committed to responding to applicants in a reasonable and timely manner. Response times will vary based on size, scope, complexity and volume of applications.
No awards were made in FY 2024/2025 or anticipated in the future.
Program details & compliance
Description
The Capital Assistance to States – Intercity Passenger Rail Service Grant Program provided funding for the cost of capital investments and limited planning activities necessary to support improved intercity passenger rail services. This program increased the states’ role in intercity passenger rail development by establishing the first federal-state partnership for intercity passenger rail investment.
Mission Categories
Primary: Urban Mass Transit
Other categories:
Rail Transportation
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Assistance can be used to develop projects, programs and planning. This includes Projects which will result in the creation of new or substantially improved High-Speed Rail/Intercity Passenger Rail service, and will provide tangible and measurable benefits, such as on-time performance improvements, travel-time reductions and higher service frequencies resulting in increased ridership. Final Design, the last phase of project development, includes right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, the preparation of final design plans, construction management plans, system safety plans for construction management and operations, safety certification, any required collision hazard analysis, final construction cost estimates and detail specifications, as well as procurement of construction services and equipment. 100% of the funds are set aside for discretionary activities.
Required Documentation
Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Assurances and Certification forms including: (1) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Covered Transactions; (2) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion Lower Tier Covered Transactions; (3) Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; (4) Certification Regarding Lobbying, (5) Assurances Non- Construction Programs – SF 424B; and (6) Certificate of Indirect Costs Assurances. Other documents may be required as pre-requisites to funding based on program type. Documentation demonstrating applicant eligibility (for applicants other than States); National Environmental Policy Act documentation for construction projects and service development programs; program-specific Assurances and Certifications; planning and engineering documentation. Also see Application Procedure. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Matching Requirements
No more than 10 percent of funds made available under this program may be used for planning activities that lead directly to the development of a passenger rail corridor investment plan.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements