Ohio is among the recipients of the $1.4 billion in grants announced by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration Monday for freight and passenger rail projects across the U.S.

What You Need To Know

  • The money, which comes from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, will go toward 70 projects in 35 states and the District of Columbia

  • Around two-thirds of the funds will be going toward rural areas

  • Ohio received the largest of the amount with three of the awards

The money, which comes from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, will go toward 70 railroad infrastructure projects in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Around two-thirds of the funds will go toward rural areas, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Ohio received the largest of the amount with three of the awards:

  • More than $16.2 million in funds will go toward rehabilitating bridges and making track-related improvements along approximately 180 miles of the Kanawha River Railroad through the North Central Appalachia Rail Enhancement and Rail Corridor Preservation Project, according to the .USDOT. The project aims to increase speeds but improve safety, reliability and capacity on the rail line. The rail line helps transport needed goods, including hazardous materials and chemicals, throughout the rural areas of Ohio and West Virginia. 
  • Nearly $10.8 million will go toward Phase 2 of the Napoleon, Defiance & Western Critical Safety Upgrade, which aims to improve tracks, upgrade rail crossings and conduct bridge rehabilitation work. 
  • Up to $602,227 will assist in the Data Driven Safety Training and Education for Front-Line Railroad Workers Project. This project involves safety education and training for railroad workers, including related to issues like accident investigation training and handling on-board passenger service crisis situations. 

“Under President Biden's leadership, we are making historic investments in rail, which means fewer accidents and delays, faster travel times, and lower shipping costs for the American people,” said USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These projects will make American rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, delivering tangible benefits to dozens of communities where railroads are located, and strengthening supply chains for the entire country.”

USDOT said the $1.4 billion in grants is the largest amount ever given toward rail safety and supply chain upgrades through the CRISI program. 

The announcement comes days after President Joe Biden announced an executive order for East Palestine, just seven months after Norfolk Southern's fiery February train derailment in the town. The order aims to coordinate recovery efforts as cleanup continues, by pulling together resources from federal agencies and holding Norfolk Southern accountable for the aftermath. 

The parts of the order include having the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designate a "Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator" who will oversee recovery efforts in the communities affected by the derailment, having the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continue its efforts to remove any contaminated soil and wastewater from the derailment and ensure Norfolk Southern is following federal mandates during the process. 

Gov. Mike DeWine also announced in early September that $100 million will go toward eliminating dangerous railroad crossings throughout the state. The funds will target grade crossings, which DeWine said are locations where railroad tracks and roads intersect. He said those crossings create a safety hazard and barriers to traffic. Since 2019, data shows there were over 10,500 reports of blocked railroad crossings because of the issues associated with those types of crossings.

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