Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RCE 26 001
The FY25-26 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number FR RCE 26 001) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under CFDA 20.327. The program, referred to in the notice as the "Crossings Program," is aimed at funding projects that improve safety and mobility at locations where roads or pathways intersect with railroad tracks at grade. In practical terms, it supports upgrades to highway-rail grade crossings and pathway-rail grade crossings, and it explicitly includes, but is not limited to, crossing elimination projects. The overall focus is on reducing risk and conflict points between trains and the traveling public while also helping people and goods move more reliably through rail corridors.
The types of projects contemplated by the program are grade crossing improvement efforts, which can range from measures that make an existing crossing safer to more intensive investments that remove the crossing conflict entirely. While the summary description does not list every eligible activity, the key theme is investment in infrastructure and related improvements at grade crossings that lead to measurable safety benefits and better mobility outcomes. "Elimination" typically implies removing the at-grade interaction (for example, by separating grades or closing/relocating crossings), but the opportunity language is broad enough to include other improvements that advance the same safety and mobility goals for both roadway/pathway users and rail operations.
Eligible applicants cover a wide range of public-sector entities that commonly plan, own, operate, or coordinate transportation infrastructure. Eligible applicants include States (and this definition is broad, covering the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories and possessions), political subdivisions of a State (such as counties), units of local government (such as cities or townships) or groups of local governments applying together, federally recognized Indian Tribes, public port authorities, and metropolitan planning organizations. The notice also allows groups made up of the listed eligible entity types, which creates flexibility for multi-jurisdictional or corridor-level projects where responsibilities and benefits are shared across multiple agencies.
From a funding perspective, the opportunity has a very large stated award ceiling of $1,146,528,000, indicating that the program can support major capital projects and/or a significant portfolio of awards. The FRA anticipates making about 120 awards, suggesting a competitive process that will likely fund a mix of project sizes and geographies. Because the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, applicants should generally expect that awards will be made through a merit-based selection process rather than by formula, with proposed projects needing to demonstrate strong justification aligned to the program purpose of safety and mobility improvement at rail crossings.
Key administrative details include that the funding instrument is a grant and the activity category is transportation. The opportunity was created on 2026-04-24, and the original closing date for applications is 2026-06-08. Applicants considering this program should plan around that deadline and ensure their submission demonstrates how the project improves safety outcomes at highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossings and how it will enhance the movement of people and goods, consistent with the stated purpose of the Crossings Program.Apply for FR RCE 26 001
- The DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY25-26 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.327.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,146,528,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 120 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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FY25-26 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program (FR RCE 26 001) - FAQs
1) What is the FY25-26 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program?
The FY25-26 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number FR RCE 26 001) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under CFDA 20.327. In the notice, it is referred to as the "Crossings Program."
2) What is the main goal of the Crossings Program?
The program is aimed at funding projects that improve safety and mobility where roads or pathways intersect with railroad tracks at grade. The overarching focus is to reduce risk and conflict points between trains and the traveling public while helping people and goods move more reliably through rail corridors.
3) What types of crossings does this program focus on?
The program supports improvements at both highway-rail grade crossings and pathway-rail grade crossings (locations where a road or pathway crosses railroad tracks at the same level).
4) Does the program only fund crossing elimination projects?
No. While it explicitly includes crossing elimination projects, it is not limited to elimination. The opportunity description is broad enough to include other grade crossing improvements that advance the program goals of measurable safety benefits and improved mobility for roadway/pathway users and rail operations.
5) What does "crossing elimination" generally mean in practice?
Based on the notice summary, "elimination" typically implies removing the at-grade interaction between trains and roadway/pathway users. Examples described at a high level include separating grades or closing/relocating crossings, with the intent of removing the crossing conflict entirely.
6) What kinds of projects are contemplated under this opportunity?
The program contemplates grade crossing improvement efforts that range from measures that make an existing crossing safer to more intensive investments that remove the crossing conflict entirely. The unifying theme is infrastructure and related improvements at grade crossings that lead to measurable safety benefits and better mobility outcomes.
7) Who administers the grant?
The grant is administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
8) Is this a formula program or a competitive program?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity, which generally means awards are expected to be made through a merit-based selection process rather than by formula. Applicants should be prepared to provide strong justification aligned with the program purpose.
9) What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA listing referenced in the opportunity summary is CFDA 20.327.
10) What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument is a grant.
11) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is transportation.
12) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- States (broadly defined to include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories and possessions)
- Political subdivisions of a State (such as counties)
- Units of local government (such as cities or townships)
- Groups of local governments applying together
- Federally recognized Indian Tribes
- Public port authorities
- Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)
- Groups made up of the listed eligible entity types
13) Can multiple entities apply together?
Yes. The notice allows groups of local governments applying together, and it also allows groups made up of the listed eligible entity types. This supports multi-jurisdictional or corridor-level projects where responsibilities and benefits are shared across multiple agencies.
14) What is the maximum (ceiling) amount stated for awards?
The opportunity lists a very large stated award ceiling of $1,146,528,000, indicating the program can support major capital projects and/or a significant portfolio of awards.
15) How many awards does FRA expect to make?
The FRA anticipates making about 120 awards.
16) What kinds of outcomes should applicants emphasize in their application?
Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed project improves safety outcomes at highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossings and how it will enhance the movement of people and goods, consistent with the Crossings Program purpose of safety and mobility improvement at rail crossings.
17) When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-04-24.
18) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for applications is 2026-06-08.
19) What is the program trying to reduce at rail crossings?
The program focuses on reducing risk and conflict points between trains and the traveling public at locations where roads or pathways intersect with railroad tracks at grade.
20) What is the practical effect of projects funded under this program?
In practical terms, the program supports upgrades to highway-rail grade crossings and pathway-rail grade crossings. These investments are intended to make crossings safer and improve mobility, helping people and goods move more reliably through rail corridors.
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