High-Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service – Capital Assistance Grants
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
To assist in financing the capital costs of facilities, infrastructure, and equipment necessary to provide or improve high-speed rail and intercity passenger rail service. Funds were made available pursuant to three authorized programs: Intercity Passenger Rail Service Corridor Capital Assistance, Congestion Grants; and High-Speed Rail Corridor Development.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- State
States (including the District of Columbia), groups of states, interstate compacts, public agencies established by one or more states and having responsibility for providing intercity passenger rail service or high-speed passenger rail service, Amtrak, Amtrak in cooperation with states.
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. After the SOW, schedule, and budget are acceptable to both FRA and the grantee, 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.
Program details & compliance
Description
The HSR/IPR Program provides an unprecedented investment to speed up trains in the Northeast Corridor, expand service in the Midwest and provide new, state-of-the-art locomotives and rail cars as part of DOT’s plan to transform travel in America. This historic investment will create tens of thousands of jobs, improve mobility and stimulate American manufacturing.
Mission Categories
Primary: 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. Funds may not be used to funding operating expenses, or for commuter rail passenger transportation. All funds are discretionary.
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 for Construction Programs – SF 424A, (6) Assurances Non- Construction Programs – SF 424B; and (7) 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
Other Match requirements depend on the legislative authority, project type, and the terms of the specific NGA.
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