US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced a new federal rail funding programme worth more than 5 billion USD aimed at improving the safety and reliability of America’s intercity passenger rail network.
The initiative, titled the National Railroad Partnership Program, has been launched through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). A central focus of the programme will be enhancing safety at level crossings, where over 2,000 incidents and more than 200 fatalities occur each year in the United States.
According to the Department of Transportation, approximately 2.4 billion USD of the new programme’s funding comes from previously committed money for California’s high-speed rail project, which the FRA has now de-obligated. These funds will be redirected into projects considered to provide immediate benefits to passenger rail safety and infrastructure.
In announcing the funding, Secretary Duffy stated that the programme would prioritise measures that directly enhance rail passenger and public safety. The FRA highlighted three areas of emphasis:
- Level crossing safety – with targeted projects to reduce collisions and fatalities
- Station facilities – supporting upgrades that improve accessibility, family amenities, and passenger comfort
- System performance – tackling the state-of-good-repair backlog and improving reliability of existing passenger rail services
US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said:Under President Trump’s leadership, America is building again. Our new National Railroad Partnership Program will emphasise safety – our number one priority – without the radical Biden-Buttigieg DEI and green grant requirements. Instead of wasting dollars on Governor Newsom’s high-speed rail boondoggle, these targeted investments will improve the lives of rail passengers, local drivers, and pedestrians.
The FRA has reissued the NOFO originally published in September 2024 under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program. The updated version incorporates funding for fiscal year 2025 and includes revisions to programme priorities.
Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 7 January 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time). The FRA will also provide technical assistance to applicants during the process.
The Department of Transportation described the initiative as the first in a series of planned infrastructure funding reallocations, intended to support projects that address safety and improve the daily experience of rail users.
