The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under the U.S. Department of Transportation, administers the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program to advance safety, efficiency, and reliability in rail infrastructure nationwide. This specific grant opportunity, titled "CRISI Congressionally Directed – City of Belvidere," targets a single eligible applicant: the City of Belvidere, Illinois. It reflects a Congressionally directed allocation within the broader CRISI framework, which is designed to fund critical freight and intercity passenger rail infrastructure projects.
The purpose of this opportunity is to support rail-related construction or improvement initiatives that yield measurable enhancements to the rail network. Projects may include grade crossing improvements, signal upgrades, rail line rehabilitation, and other activities aligned with CRISI’s mission to reduce congestion, improve rail safety, and foster economic development through efficient rail transport systems. Only one award will be issued under this specific funding stream.
The grant requires a cost-sharing component, indicating a non-federal match is mandatory. However, the precise match amount or ratio is not specified in the provided announcement. The total available program funding and award ceiling are both $1,666,279. There is no stated award floor, and applications are due by November 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications must be submitted electronically through GrantSolutions, using a user account provided by the system.
Key components required for submission include a completed SF-424, SF-424C (Budget Information – Construction), SF-424D (Assurances), SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying), a construction budget and narrative, a statement of work or project summary, and signed assurances and certifications provided by FRA. These must be uploaded as attachments within the system during the application process. No pre-application steps such as LOIs or concept papers are required.
Administrative and budgetary queries should be directed to Jonne’sha Riggs at the Office of Railroad CFO, while programmatic and technical questions should go to Ashley Cotrange at the Office of Railroad Development. The grant was posted on November 7, 2025, and it will be archived by December 15, 2025. The opportunity is not recurring and is not expected to reopen in the next cycle.
