Railroad Safety

FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
CFDA 20.301 Active Grant
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding
$1.2M FY2024
$1.2M
FY24

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2025 In FY 2025, FRA continued funding grants supporting state safety inspectors, hazardous materials training, and railroad safety education programs.

Program Objective

Funding for this program supports the certification of state inspectors to conduct investigative and surveillance activities to ensure that the application and interpretation of federal railroad safety rules, regulations, orders, and standards reflect the same national uniformity.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government
  • State
  • U.S. State Government

Local (includes State-designated lndian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals, Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals), Other public institution/organization, Profit organization

States, Local, Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education), Other public institution/organization, Profit organization

How to Apply

Award Procedure

FRA will contact applicants with successful applications with information and instructions about the award process. This notification is not an authorization to begin proposed project activities. A formal grant agreement or cooperative agreement signed by both the grantee and the FRA, including an approved scope, schedule, and budget, is required before the award is considered complete.

Program details & compliance

Description

Conduct investigative and surveillance activities to ensure that the application and interpretation of federal railroad safety rules, regulations, orders, and standards reflect the same national uniformity.

Mission Categories

Primary: Rail Transportation

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Railroad Safety initiatives, including: 1) Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Grants – to provide funding for local law enforcement activities intended to reduce trespassing on rail rights-of-way. 2) Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grants – for the implementation of railroad trespassing suicide prevention programs. 3) Operation Lifesaver (OLI) – to support administration of public education and awareness programs related to highway-rail grade crossing safety and railroad trespass prevention in the United States, and consists of four tasks: States Assistance Programs, Training and Education Programs, Communications Programs and OLI Program Administration. 4) Security – to establish, develop, and implement plans, procedures, and networks to send and receive security-sensitive or emergency-related information from the Government to rail stakeholders and from rail stakeholders to the Government. 5) American Chemistry Council (Chemtrec and TRANSCAER) – to ass

Required Documentation

See Application Procedure. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost
Principles applies to this program.

Matching Requirements

FRA cannot consider any other Federal funds, nor any non-Federal funds already expended (or otherwise encumbered), towards the matching requirement. Additionally, FRA is limiting the method for calculating the non-Federal match to cash contributions only, ‘‘in-kind’’ contributions will not be accepted. Matching funds provided in excess of the minimum requirement will be considered in evaluating the merit of an application.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Determined at Time of Award
Records Retention
3 years

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

Contacts

Mariam Ouhamou — Chief, Grants Management Division
(202) 493-6437
Acting Chief, Grant & Loan Program Development Division, Office of Rail Program Development 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20590
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-01-28. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-29 05:40:50.