The US government has earmarked over US$368 million in grants to improve the country's rail infrastructure and enhance and strengthen supply chains.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) made the announcement noting that the funding under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program will support 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

"These investments will play a crucial role in modernizing our country's rail infrastructure and strengthening supply chains, helping to reduce congestion and get people and goods where they need to go quickly and more affordably," the announcement from the Department of Transportation (DoT) said.

It added that aside from improving passenger rail and funding conventional and high-speed rail, they will also increase supply chain resilience and fluidity, support short line railroads, and invest in new technology and safety advancements.

 
President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has nearly tripled funding for this critical rail infrastructure program - to US$1 billion a year for the next five years. 

"Americans deserve a world-class rail system that allows people and goods to get where they need to go more quickly and affordably while reducing traffic and pollution on our roads," said Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation secretary. "We're proud to award these grants to improve passenger rail for riders and strengthen the freight rail that makes our supply chains and our economy work."

FRA Administrator Amit Bose noted that this round of CRISI grants – "one of the largest ever" – is a major step forward to boost the country's infrastructure.

 
Included in the CRISI are projects that will enhance multi-modal connections, address slow orders, and fix up 100-year-old track to speed up the movement of goods from ports to rail to trucks to shelves.

Some of the projects include a US$6.2 million "Heart of Georgia Americus Sub Upgrade Project; the US$15.68 million Port of Baltimore Rail Capacity Modernization Project; the US$57.9 million Raleigh to Richmond Corridor Infrastructure Engineering & Safety Program; and the US$10.99 million Southwest Kansas Infrastructure Upgrade Project.

It will also fund the Florida Panhandle Rural Capacity Expansion Project (US$8.3 million); and the Great Lakes Corridor Improvement (US$21.34 million).

"As the nation continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, these upgrades and expansions will help state and local governments and rail carriers meet renewed travel demand and strengthen supply chains," the DoT announcement said.