The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Solicitation and Funding Opportunity on Thursday in an appeal for project bids for intercity passenger rail corridors through the Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program.
The program was created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $7.2 billion for the program in 2022.
FRA administrator Amit Bose noted that they have received extensive interest from states, local leaders and the public for intercity passenger rail service in their regions and communities; a Thursday FRA press release said.
“With President Biden’s infrastructure investments, we have an opportunity to support new intercity passenger rail corridors and develop a national strategy to make rail transportation more available and reliable, boosting economies, growing jobs, and creating new connections to move people and goods with ease," Bose said in the release.
Project plans should bring tangible public benefits with a priority on rural and underserved communities. The corridors are expected to make regional travel more sustainable, reduce congestion, boost local economies and create jobs.
The opportunity to receive funds is available at any point in a project, and the FRA pledges to be there to completion.
“The Corridor ID program will allow the federal government to help with the long-term planning and delivery of new passenger rail projects nationwide,” Bose added.
The Corridor ID Program is a major step in the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to improve the nation’s rail networks, the release said. Formal corridor proposals must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. ET on March 20, 2023. The FRA will provide technical assistance to potential applicants regarding program requirements.
