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2011 Discretionary Grant Programs

Rail Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination In High Speed Rail Corridors - Additional Information

BACKGROUND:

Section 1010 of the 1991 ISTEA revised 23 U.S.C. 104(d) (continued in TEA-21, Section 1103(c) and in SAFETEA-LU Section 1103 (f)) to require the Secretary to set aside Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds to States to improve highway-railroad grade crossings on Federally designated high speed rail corridors. SAFETEA-LU provides that this program be funded by $15 million in Fiscal Year 2009 in contract authority, including a set-aside earmark in the amount of $3,000,000 for the Minneapolis to Chicago corridor. For Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011, SAFETEA-LU, as extended, authorized $15 million under this section. FHWA and FRA have issued a partial disbursement of the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriation for congressionally designated projects, leaving $6,525,000 available for discretionary award. The residual funds of $6,525,000 from Fiscal Year 2010 and the full funding amount of $15,000,000 (less obligation limit) for Fiscal Year 2011, for a total of $21,525,000 (less obligation limit), are being made available for discretionary award through this announcement.

ELIGIBILITY:

These funds may be used for the elimination of hazards at railway-highway crossings along 11 designated high-speed rail corridors.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This program is jointly administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

STATUS:

ACTIVE

APPROPRIATION CODES:

LE10

FEDERAL PARTICIPATION:

Up to 100 percent, in accordance with 23 U.S.C. section 120 (c)

PERIOD AVAILABLE:

Current FY + 3 Years

FUND:

Highway Trust Fund (HTF)

FUND DISTRIBUTION METHOD:

Allocation

TYPE OF AUTHORITY:

Contract

SUBJECT TO OBLIGATION LIMITATION:

Yes

STATUTORY REFERENCE:

23 U.S.C. 104(d), SAFETEA-LU Section 1103 (f), 23 U.S.C. 120 (c)

CFR REFERENCE/Guidance:

23 CFR Part 646 (Railroads)
23 CFR 655 Subpart F
(Traffic Control Devices on Federal-Aid and other streets and highways)

Federally Designated High-Speed Rail Corridors, March 2011
http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/2343.shtml

High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety Strategy, Version. 1.0, November 2009
http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/HSRSafetyStrategy110609.pdf

CONTACTS

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Guan Xu
202-366-5892
guan.xu@dot.gov

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Randall Brown
202-493-6370
randall.brown@dot.gov

For additional information regarding the Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination in High-Speed Rail Corridors program and Fiscal Year 2011 funding solicitation, please visit the following external link to the FRA website: http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/fp_HSR_grade_crossing.shtml