The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has allocated over 2.4 billion USD from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund 122 rail improvement projects across 41 states and Washington, D.C.
These projects, administered under the FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, will enhance rail safety, reliability, and efficiency, reducing shipping costs, lowering emissions, and supporting supply chain resilience.
The CRISI Program prioritises rail improvements for smaller, short-line railroads crucial to regional economies. Projects include track upgrades, bridge replacements, expanded rail connections at ports, and the addition of modern, eco-friendly locomotives. This funding round is part of a larger series of rail investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, marking the most significant US rail investment in over five decades.
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said:Today’s investments in our rail systems reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to building a stronger, safer, and more resilient transportation network. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re funding rail infrastructure projects that create jobs and expand workforce development, reduce costs for consumers, and directly benefit communities across the country. Each project advances a future where our supply chains are stronger, passenger rail more accessible, and freight movement safer and more efficient.
Key CRISI projects in this round include:
Illinois: 157 million USD for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, consolidating rail corridors and constructing a multimodal center to improve St. Louis–Chicago connectivity.
North Carolina: 105.5 million USD for NCRR’s passenger and freight improvements, adding sidings, reconstructing tracks, and enhancing Amtrak performance.
Georgia: 26.5 million USD for rail upgrades at Colonel’s Island Terminal, expanding rail infrastructure for automotive shipping and improving efficiency.
Michigan: 67 million USD for Detroit’s Livernois Intermodal Facility expansion, adding new track and eco-friendly cranes to support local businesses and reduce environmental impacts.
Additional projects in states such as Arizona and Michigan will address infrastructure vulnerabilities, improve safety, and advance the shift to cleaner rail options.
