Since President Biden took office, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken key steps to improve the safety of our railways by deploying funding from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, holding railroads accountable, raising rail safety standards, and supporting first responders and rail workers. Following the Norfolk Southern derailment last year, the Administration has mobilized a comprehensive, cross-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio. And, while the President has been pushing to increase rail safety, House Republicans have actively worked against this progress by voting to cut rail safety measures.
For nearly two centuries, railroads have been an indispensable part of America’s economy, society, and way of life. They are a vital component of our supply chains and get goods and people where they need to go. But no transportation system can succeed, long-term, if it is not safe-safe for the workers who operate it, and for the communities that rely on it. Safety is the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) top priority. That means ensuring each and every day that the freight rail industry lives up to its obligations to keep communities and workers safe. It means funding infrastructure projects to improve both the safety and the efficiency of our nation’s rail network. And it means working with Congress to advance regulation in areas that need it.
In the early 2010s, we saw a number of high-profile freight rail incidents across the U.S. and Canada, including one that left nearly 50 people dead. Those events led to the passage of significant new rail safety rules-over strong opposition from industry. Since those changes, we have seen real improvement: derailments decreased by 15% on main line tracks, and lives were certainly saved. A decade later, this progress has plateaued, with Class I freight railroad safety performance data showing that rates of derailments and preventable incidents continue to impact communities and workers in unacceptable ways.
But, as last year’s Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine demonstrated, we can and must do more. DOT is using the full range of its authority, as well as funding available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to improve rail safety, as detailed below. The Department has taken action to raise rail safety standards, hold railroads accountable, support first responders, and protect rail workers. But DOT cannot do this alone.
Achieving the highest level of rail safety requires active and continued partnership from Congress. And rail companies must also take urgent, dedicated action that includes not just complying with current standards, but decisively putting the long-term safety of workers and communities ahead of short-term opportunities to supercharge profits.
Deployment of Funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: In 2023, the Department deployed a historic level of infrastructure funds for programs including the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, the new Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) program, and Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) program to modernize and upgrade rail infrastructure, including track improvements, bridge replacements and rehabilitations, highway-rail grade crossing eliminations, at-grade rail crossings, upgrades on routes carrying hazardous materials, support for workforce development and training activities, and more. These federal investments address long-standing rail needs and support communities nationwide by moving people and goods safely, efficiently, reliably, and conveniently.
- Through the first ever Railroad Crossing Elimination Program, DOT awarded $570 million to 32 states to eliminate or improve more than 400 at-grade crossings-making our roads and railways safer, while also helping countless Americans save time on their commutes. Award information is available here: https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/railroad-crossing-elimination-rce-program-program-fy2022-selections.
- In September 2023, through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, DOT made passenger and freight rail safer, more efficient, and more reliable, awarding $1.4 billion to 70 projects. https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/fy-2022-consolidated-rail-infrastructure-and-safety-improvement-program-selections-project.
- In March, DOT opened a new round of funding for the CRISI program-making more than $2.4 billion available to invest in projects nationwide.
- In November 2023, FRA announced $16.4 billion in grant awards under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program to support 25 passenger rail projects of national significance along the Northeast Corridor, the nation’s busiest passenger rail corridor. Information on these awards is available here: https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/fy22-23-FSP-NEC-fact-sheets.
- In May, USDOT made more than $2 billion in new funding available for the Fed State – NEC program available to continue improving America’s busiest rail corridor.
- In December 2023, FRA announced $8.2 billion for grants for 10 passenger rail projects across the country to be awarded through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program – National. More details on the awards are available here: https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/fy22-23-FSP-National-rail-program-project-fact-sheets.