RAIL PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES UNDER TEA-21

This section highlights current rail and rail-related project funding opportunities available under TEA-21 and the role of state and local officials in addressing their project needs.  This update provides examples of rail and rail-related projects funded under TEA-21, that provide broad public benefits in transportation efficiency, air quality, safety, and economic development.

These programs include the following:

$           National Highway System (NHS)

$           Surface Transportation Program (STP) General Grants

$           Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ)

  $    Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA)

$           Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF)

$           National Corridor Planning and Development and Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program (NCPD and CBI)

$           Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP)

$           Transportation Enhancements Program (TEP)

$           Light Density Rail Line Pilot Projects

$           High-Speed Rail

The primary emphasis of each of these TEA-21 programs is outlined below.  Examples of passenger and freight rail and rail-related projects are provided, with special attention to their public benefits and funding sources. Several of the examples use blended funds from more than one source, including more than one TEA-21 program category. For further information on a specific program, the appropriate program web-site has been included at the end of each program description.

National Highway System (NHS)

Total Funds: $28.6 billion over 6 years.

Eligibility: A broad range of road construction and rehabilitation on designated Federal highway systems (the 163,000 miles of the NHS, including connectors to major intermodal facilities). NHS funds can be used to improve almost any highway network link to accommodate intermodal movements, including truck or rail freight. States may transfer up to 50 percent of NHS funds to the STP program.  For further information, see FHWA's web-site at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tea21/factsheets/nhs.htm  

Example of approved rail and rail-related project under NHS:

Philadelphia Tioga Marine Terminal (Pennsylvania).   The goods movement task force of the Philadelphia MPO identified impediments to highway access at the Tioga Marine Terminal, a water/rail/highway intermodal transfer facility.  Improvements undertaken include signage, signaling, and rebuilding the Allegheny Avenue off-ramp from I-95.  These three elements use separate funding packages: federal NHS and safety funds for the signaling; state funds for the signage; and a mix of NHS, STP, and other funds for the turning radii improvements.