News Release

INDIANA — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration have announced more than $2.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for 122 rail improvement projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C. Indiana will share nearly $40 million amongst its various railroad projects.

These projects will make rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, getting goods and people where they need to be quickly with fewer disruptions, lower shipping costs and less pollution.Administered through FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program, the grants announced will benefit every region of the country, especially rural communities.

Indiana’s projects include:

Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern Railroad Supply Chain Equipment Project — Up to $21,485,750

• The proposed project was selected for Construction and includes acquisition of a 26-car continuous welded rail train and 75 ballast cars to support the Chicago, Fort Wayne and Eastern Railroad. The acquisition will directly address the growing industry shortage of CWR trains and ballast cars that are needed to further infrastructure investments. The project aligns with the selection criteria of enhancing safety by directly supporting the state of good repair of rail infrastructure, as a CWR train and ballast cars are the primary equipment required to safely and efficiently deliver essential materials to track-rehabilitation and -upgrade projects. The Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern Railroad and Indiana DOT will contribute the 35% non-Federal match.

Madison Railroad Gateway to the National Rail Network – North Muscatatuck River Bridge Replacement — Up to $5,431,083

• The proposed project was selected for Final Design and Construction and includes replacement of the 130-year-old North Muscatatuck River Bridge on the Madison Railroad in Vernon. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving system and service performance, as the project will address a critical vulnerability, increase bridge capacity, and remove the last permanent slow order on the railroad. The Madison Railroad will contribute the 20% non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.

St. Joseph County Capital Avenue Corridor Rail Expansion Project — Up to $772,800

• The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes extension of the existing Patriot Rail Elkhart and Western Railroad to connect with Canadian National Railway’s Chicago-Toronto. The project aligns with the selection criteria by advancing economic opportunities to ship goods by rail, benefitting the customers of Elkhart and Western Railroad with two Class I connections. St. Joseph’s County and EWR will contribute the 20%non-Federal match. The project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.

Louisville & Indiana Railroad Clagg Bridge Lift Span Operations Project — Up to $6,492,000

• The proposed project was selected for Project Development, Final Design and Construction and includes improvement of the Clagg Lift Span of the Fourteenth Street Bridge, which connects Louisville, Kentucky, and Clarksville. The project aligns with the selection criteria by improving safety, as the project will sustain the efficient multi-modal transport of goods across the Ohio River. The Louisville and Indiana Railroad Company will contribute the 50% non-Federal match.

Development and Testing of a Full-Scale Low Force Friction Welding Machine for Continuous Welded Rail — Up to $4,620,559

• The proposed project was selected for Research and Development and includes design and build of a full-scale rail joining machine to implement low-force friction welding on rail. The project aligns with the selection criteria by improving safety and resilience, as a new rail-welding process capable of welding full sections on 136 lb. rail would reduce the installation costs for continuous welded rail. The University of Notre Dame and Manufacturing Technology, Inc., will contribute the 22% non-Federal match.

Projects in this round of selections reflect the broad array of rail safety and service improvements eligible under this program, such as upgrading track, replacing or rehabilitating aging bridges, expanding rail connections at ports, adding modern locomotives to fleets and more. The CRISI Program is also the only federal grant program prioritizing smaller, short line railroads vital to the American economy and regional supply chains.

This announcement is part of a series of investments the Biden-Harris Administration has made in nearly 300 rail projects and dozens of emerging passenger rail corridors across the country through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded FRA grant programs. This marks the most significant investment in American rail in more than 50 years.

“Today’s investments in our rail systems reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to building a stronger, safer, and more resilient transportation network,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re funding rail infrastructure projects that create jobs and expand workforce development, reduce costs for consumers, and directly benefit communities across the country. Each project advances a future where our supply chains are stronger, passenger rail more accessible, and freight movement safer and more efficient.”

While the majority of CRISI grants directly improve rail infrastructure, CRISI investments are also supporting the rail workforce and investing in the hardworking Americans who will help maintain and operate the Nation’s rail networks well into the future.

Federal funding will create new apprenticeship programs, expand training opportunities, establish partnerships with universities, and advance innovative research. For example, one grant awarded to the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen will help develop an effective strategy for integrating wayside hot box detectors to enhance safety and proactively address derailments caused by wheel and bearing failures.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration and through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FRA is investing more than ever in communities nationwide, reversing a half-century of federal underinvestment in America’s rail network and delivering the world-class rail our citizens deserve,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “Today’s CRISI grants will enhance rail safety, better connect towns, cities, and ports, introduce more environmentally friendly locomotives, support the current rail workforce, and provide workforce development opportunities essential to the future of our industry and the national economy.”