USDOT Grant awards
Grant Writing
2022-2023 Fed-State Partnership – National (up to $143,629,028) – Pennsylvania DOT
The Pennsylvanian Rail Modernization project involves right-of-way acquisition and final design and construction activities for various track and signal-related improvements along Norfolk Southern Railway’s main line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, PA. The project will improve the system and service performance of freight trains and the Amtrak Pennsylvanian service with additional capacity and other upgrades, allowing for a second daily round trip of Amtrak’s service. The project will also help increase safety and improve the reliability of all train operators. PennDOT will provide a 20 percent non-Federal match. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – PennDOT – Scranton to New York Penn Station
The proposed Corridor would connect Scranton, PA and New York, NY, with intermediate stops at Stroudsburg and Mt. Pocono, PA; Blairstown, Dover, Montclair, Morristown and Newark, NJ. The proposed Corridor would provide new service (three daily round trips) on a mostly existing alignment, plus abandoned track to be rebuilt. The entirety of the alignment for this corridor is under public ownership. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – PennDOT – Keystone Corridor: Pittsburgh to Philadelphia
The proposed Corridor would provide improvements to the existing Amtrak Keystone and Pennsylvanian services between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA via Lancaster, Harrisburg, Altoona, Johnstown, and other intermediate points by adding frequencies (including at least one additional daily round-trip between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh), reducing end-to-end travel time, and improving reliability. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
The proposed Corridor would restore a connection between Chicago, IL to Seattle, WA or Portland, OR through Milwaukee, WI; La Crosse, WI; Eau Claire, WI; St. Paul, MN; Fargo, ND; Bismarck, ND; Dickson, ND; Glendive, MT; Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; Butte, MT; Helena, MT; Missoula, MT; St. Regis, MT; Sandpoint, MT; Spokane, WA; and Pasco, WA. The proposed Corridor would provide new service (restoring a route that Amtrak discontinued in 1979) on an existing alignment. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – IDOT – Chicago Quad Cities
The proposed Corridor would connect Chicago, IL to Moline, IL through Naperville, IL and Wyanet, IL. The proposed Corridor would provide new service on an existing alignment. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – IDOT – Chicago – Carbondale
The proposed Corridor would provide improvements to the existing Illini/Saluki service between Chicago, IL and Carbondale, IL by improving travel times and reliability. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – WisDOT- Milwaukee – Madison – Eau Claire – Twin Cities
The proposed Corridor would connect Milwaukee, WI to Minneapolis, MN through Madison, WI and Eau Claire, WI. The proposed Corridor would provide new service on an existing alignment. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – WisDOT- Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago
The proposed Corridor would initiate a new daily round-trip between Chicago, IL and St. Paul, MN to complement the existing Amtrak long-distance Empire Builder, with an extension to Minneapolis, MN. The proposed Corridor would also include a study of potential additional frequencies. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – WisDOT- Milwaukee to Green Bay
The proposed Corridor would connect the existing Hiawatha service between Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI with an extension to Green Bay, WI. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 Corridor ID Program (up to $500,000) – WisDOT- Milwaukee to Chicago
The proposed Corridor would provide improvements to the existing Hiawatha service between Milwaukee, WI and Chicago, IL by adding new frequencies. The Corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan. FRA Release
2022 CRISI (up to $8,128,000) – Toledo, Peoria, and Western Railway
The project includes project development, final design, and construction activities for a variety of track-related improvements. It will increase capacity to stage and store railcars, as well as return the track to a state of good repair along TPW’s corridor that serves agricultural customers in rural areas of Indiana and Illinois. The project will also increase safety and reliability, in addition to improving operations through the elimination of inefficient movements. FRA Release
2022 CRISI (up to $20,385,000) – Michigan DOT – Railroad: Great Lakes Central
The project will complete final design and construction to replace the Manistee River Bridge, which was built in 1888 and currently has many components that are in poor or critical condition. The project will restore railroad timetable speeds, increase the load rating of the structure to allow 286,000-pound railcars, and preserve rail service to commodity shippers in the northwest lower peninsula of Michigan. The infrastructure is owned by Michigan DOT and leased to Great Lakes Central Railroad. FRA Release
2022 Railroad Crossing Elimination (up to $23,964,400) – City of Monroe, MI
The Project will complete project development activities, right-of-way acquisition, final design, and construction of the Monroe West Side Grade Separation and Traffic Safety Improvement Project to eliminate an existing grade crossing and construct a new grade separation with CSX. The project will improve roadway traffic flow on the west side of Monroe and improve safety response times for emergency vehicles. FRA Release
2021 Fed-State SOGR (up to $1,548,750) – MDOT
The Project includes PE/NEPA phase work to prepare for the reconstruction of five structures between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, Michigan. Upon the completion of the project, Amtrak’s service between Detroit/Pontiac and Chicago will maintain travel-time reductions achieved in other projects completed in the corridor and be poised for future service expansion. FRA Release
2021 CRISI (up to $21,340,300) – MDOT/Great Lakes Central RR
Upgrades the Ann Arbor District from jointed rail to CWR; replaces 30,000 ties; replaces five turnouts; and surfaces the Ann Arbor District. In addition, nine structures in the Ann Arbor District and two structures in the Cadillac District will be rehabilitated or replaced. The Project will restore railroad timetable speeds and improve the freight service in the corridor. As a short-line partner to MDOT, GLC is contracted to perform freight rail service that supports MDOT’s mission to provide “the highest quality integrated transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life.” Assuring the State has an efficient and robust rail system supports both the economic and quality of life elements of this mission statement. FRA Release
2020 Fed-State SOGR (up to $15,570,327) – MDOT
Rehabilitates and improves geometry for 42 horizontal curves, installing 80,000 feet of rail and related safety enhancements at 16 public and 8 private at-grade crossings, including roadway vertical profile changes and active warning device installation on the state-owned rail corridor between Ypsilanti and Jackson, Michigan. Expected to provide a 7-minute trip-time reduction and improve operational reliability and grade crossing safety throughout the corridor. FRA Release
2020 CRISI (up to $31,800,000) – WisDOT
Passenger Rail Service Project (Qualified Opportunity Zone) funds six infrastructure improvements in Wisconsin and Minnesota on Canadian Pacific’s Soo Line serving Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, to add the first state-supported intercity passenger rail frequency between the Twin Cities and Milwaukee to contribute to an eighth round-trip on the Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago. The Twin Cities are currently only served by Amtrak’s long-distance Empire Builder route. Upgrades communication and signaling, extends rail sidings, improves at grade crossings, extends yard lead track, and reconstructs and modifies new turnouts and mainline track. FRA Release
2020 CRISI (up to $15,619,365) – MDOT
Seeks to eliminate trespasser hotspots along the rail line from Dearborn to Kalamazoo, Michigan, owned by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), by improving eight grade crossings, closing another crossing, and installing approximately 157 miles of right-of-way fencing. The hotspot locations are found in downtown Dearborn, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Albion, Augusta, Galesburg, and Kalamazoo. Trespassing incidents have resulted in 12 deaths between 2016 and 2019. FRA Release
2019 CRISI (up to $26,600,000) – WisDOT
The Muskego Yard Bypass Project (Opportunity Zone) reconfigures the existing Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) rail and yard facilities just south of the Milwaukee Intermodal Station (an intercity passenger station owned by Wisconsin Department of Transportation) to double-track the CP’s mainline through the Muskego Yard, moving freight traffic out of the Milwaukee Intermodal Station and reducing the number of grade crossings CP freight trains cross in Milwaukee. FRA Release (under “17 Remaining Projects”)
2019 CRISI (up to $749,919) – MDOT
Funds preliminary engineering and environmental analysis and documentation for a new dedicated intercity passenger rail track in Battle Creek, Michigan, to allow intercity passenger trains to bypass Canadian National track where frequent host railroad delays occur. The preliminary engineering and environmental analysis work encompasses new track, turnouts, grade crossings, and the reconstruction of the intercity passenger rail boarding platform at the Battle Creek Intermodal Terminal. FRA Release (under “17 Remaining Projects”)
2019 Fed-State SOGR (up to $6,521,957) – MDOT
Rehabilitates and upgrades signal and track infrastructure on the state-owned Kalamazoo-Dearborn corridor, used by Amtrak’s Wolverine and Blue Water services as well as multiple freight operators. The work includes signal and grade crossing component rehabilitation, including replacing switch machines, switch heaters, backup power generators, and 26 gate crossing mechanisms at 18 crossings along the line. Additional work includes replacing 10 turnouts used to move on and off the mainline tracks. The project will improve the corridor’s state of good repair, safety, and reliability, reduce passenger train delays, and contribute to enabling 110-mph service in the corridor. FRA Release
2018 Fed-State SOGR (up to $25,716,900) – WisDOT
Next Generation Single-Level Coach and Cab-Coach Equipment Acquisition Project will replace deteriorated, outdated passenger cab-baggage and coach cars used in the Chicago–Milwaukee Amtrak Hiawatha Service with three single-level cab-coach cars and six single-level coach cars. The new equipment will adhere to the Next Generation fleet standards promulgated by the Next Generation Equipment Committee. The Hiawatha service is Amtrak’s ninth-busiest route, and its busiest route in the Midwest, serving almost 850,000 passengers annually. Replacement of the cab-baggage cars with cab-coach cars will increase seating capacity, reduce fuel consumption, increase equipment reliability, reduce crowding, and improve accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
2018 SOGR (up to $23,335,165) – MDOT
The proposed project, located on the Michigan-owned segment of the Chicago to Detroit/Pontiac corridor will rehabilitate rail, crossties, and track surfaces between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, MI, and replace two railroad bridges in Jackson, MI. The track rehabilitation project replaces approximately 80,000 ties east of Battle Creek and 15 track miles of rail east of Jackson. The project will also maintain a state of good repair and preserve passenger train speeds up to 110 mph and improve rail safety for Amtrak’s Wolverine service, which carries nearly 500,000 annual passengers. The bridge replacements at Jackson St. and Mechanic St. in the City of Jackson will replace the deteriorated existing structures with new spans. The current structures rely on temporary shoring and have sub-standard vertical clearances, resulting in frequent bridge strikes by highway vehicles. The new spans will reduce or eliminate bridge strikes and reconfigure and expand sidewalks under the structures to improve pedestrian safety.
2018 CRISI (up to $2,699,451) – WisDOT
Milwaukee Area Passenger and Freight Rail Improvement Project: Milwaukee Intermodal Centralized Train Control Installation upgrades signal system to centralized train control on approximately 2 miles of track surrounding the Milwaukee Intermodal Station on the state-supported Hiawatha Amtrak service, building on a fiscal year 2017 CRISI grant to add a second platform at the airport station. Enables the 20 freight trains and 16 passenger trains that daily travel the area to operate closer to permitted speeds. FRA Release
2017 CRISI (up to $5,050,000) – WisDOT
Milwaukee Airport Rail Station Second Platform Project will construct a second platform at the Milwaukee Airport Rail Station, as well as elevator towers and an overhead pedestrian bridge to connect the new platform to the station. The station’s existing, single platform configuration forces both eastbound and westbound Amtrak trains to use the eastern main track to serve passengers, rather than using both tracks, which results in congestion for both passenger and CP freight trains. The new platform will improve fluidity in the corridor by enabling trains to operate on both main tracks and meet in a 10.7-mile segment of track surrounding the station, which will improve schedule flexibility and reliability. The project will also improve safety and access for passengers with disabilities by eliminating the use of an emergency platform. FRA Release
Grant Management
2013 TIGER ($9,383,036) – MDOT
This project completed track improvements between Battle Creek and Jackson, MI on the Michigan Line railroad. This grant supplemented ARRA and HSIPR grants to provide additional curve modification and track rehabilitation allowing passenger train speeds up to 110mph.
2010 HSIPR ($3,200,000) – MDOT
Service Development Plan and environmental analysis for expanding high-speed passenger rail service between Chicago, IL, and Detroit and Pontiac, MI.
2010 HSIPR ($150,000,000) – MDOT
Approximately 135 miles of railroad property was acquired by MDOT from Norfolk Southern (specifically the property located between MP 7.6 at Townline to MP 119.6 at CP Baron (112.00 miles) and between MP 121.39 at Gord to MP 145.60 in Kalamazoo (24.21 miles)). In addition, MDOT completed track construction and grade crossing rehabilitation between MP 9.0 and 28.0.
2009 ARRA HSIPR ($28,204,450) – MDOT
Dearborn’s John D. Dingell Transit Center replaced a small Amtrak station with a new 16,000 square feet intermodal passenger station for Amtrak’s Wolverine service and future commuter rail and local bus services. The station includes dual side platforms and an overhead walkway. Quick facts about Dearborn’s Intermodal Passenger Rail Station (cityofdearborn.org)
2009 ARRA ($196,503,208) – MDOT
This project completed track rehabilitation and signal improvements on the Michigan Line to allow for increases in passenger speeds up to 110 mph.