The U.S. Federal Government is seeking proposals to improve safety at railroad crossings across the country, which are responsible for hundreds of deaths every year.
Last week, the Department of Transportation announced it was soliciting proposals for a current $1.1 billion in available funding earmarked for safety infrastructure at railroad crossings.
Unprotected railroad crossings are among the highest contributing factors to deadly interactions betweens trains and pedestrians or vehicles. According to the DOT, there are more than 2,000 incidents at railroad crossing each year, and as many as 300 lives are lost during these unwanted occurrences.
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David Fink, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, said the Federal Government and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has made reducing railroad collisions a top priority, from “installing automated equipment to eliminating unsafe crossings.”
“We are committed to delivering a safer railroad system for Americans,” Fink said in a news release on the DOT website.
Duffy added that protecting American drivers and pedestrians at railroad crossings also protects the greater U.S. economy, which is heavily dependent on rail.
“This Administration is always working towards improving the safety of our transportation networks, including our vital rail network that keeps our economy humming,” Duffy said. “Our investment improves the resilience of our infrastructure and protects workers and travelers alike utilizing American roads.”
Which railroad crossing improvements are eligible for funding?
The Department of Transportation is now looking to fund certain safety improvement projects at railroad crossings. Potential improvement projects include:
- Building overpasses or underpasses so cars and trains never meet
- Upgrading safety technology at crossings
- Relocating tracks in order to close a grade crossing
- Eliminating crossings that are frequently blocked by trains
- Educating the public on how to cross train tracks safely
Funding is made available through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, or its Crossing Safety Program.
Those programs are meant to improve safety and mobility for both people and goods, officials said. Under Duffy, the grant programs have new criteria which the DOT says prioritize safety and enhancing access to emergency services.
Transit agencies, municipalities, local and statewide governments can submit their eligible projects to the Department of Transportation for consideration. Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals as soon as possible with a hard deadline set as June 8, 2026.
Application criteria and other important information can be found on the Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration’s dedicated website for this Notice of Funding Opportunity.
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