FY24 Port of Rosedale Multimodal Expansion: Great River Railroad Restoration Project

The FY Port of Rosedale Multimodal Expansion: Great River Railroad Restoration Project is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration. This initiative aligns with the goals of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program (Assistance Listing 20.337), which supports enhancements to rail systems that improve transportation safety, efficiency, and economic vitality. The project centers on revitalizing the Great River Railroad (GRYR), a regional freight rail line serving Bolivar County, Mississippi, by restoring its functional connectivity to the Columbus and Greenville Railroad (CAGY) at Metcalf. The broader restoration effort is divided into two phases, and this grant specifically funds the completion of environmental review for both phases while directly supporting preliminary engineering, final design, and construction activities under Phase 1. Phase 1 will focus on rehabilitating approximately 31 miles of non-operational track, aiming to restore it to a condition suitable for maintenance equipment. Planned activities include replacing around one-third of the timber ties, resurfacing track, repairing 33 grade crossings, repairing four timber bridges, replacing one bridge with culverts, and installing a concrete culvert. These upgrades are intended to improve regional transportation infrastructure resilience and redundancy, particularly benefiting the Port of Rosedale and the surrounding areas. Phase 2, while not funded under this agreement beyond the environmental review, is expected to further upgrade the infrastructure through installation of heavier rail, more tie replacements, additional bridge replacements, and improvements to sidings, notably the Port of Rosedale spur. This phased implementation strategy allows for progressive restoration aligned with environmental compliance and design readiness. The application process does not mention pre-application stages or gated submissions, and it follows standard Grants.gov procedures. Applications must be submitted by November 4, 2025, with no stated requirement for letters of intent or preliminary proposals. County governments are the only eligible applicant type explicitly mentioned. Cost sharing is required, although a specific ratio or percentage is not provided in the public documentation. Evaluation criteria and detailed application components are not disclosed in the synopsis. For support with accessing or submitting the application, applicants are directed to the GrantSolutions Help Desk, available via phone at 1.866.577.0771 or 202.401.5282 during standard business hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET). No recurring cycle is mentioned in the grant synopsis, and this appears to be a one-time funding opportunity with an estimated total program funding of $8,175,000. The performance period or award notification date is not detailed in the announcement.