FY25 Short Line Safety Institute Program

The FY25 Short Line Safety Institute Program is a federally funded initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration. This grant opportunity, identified as FR-RRD-25-001, is a discretionary grant designed to support the ongoing work of the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI), a 501(c)(3) organization. The SLSI is nationally recognized for its mission to foster safety improvement in short line and regional railroads through voluntary, non-punitive partnerships. This grant opportunity stems from a specific Congressional appropriation and serves to advance rail safety culture through strategic interventions. The Institute's operations are centered around four strategic pillars: safety culture assessments, education and training, research, and communications. Through these activities, the Institute seeks to enhance the operational safety standards and cultural commitment to safety across the short line and regional rail network in the United States. These railroads often serve as critical connectors in the national freight system, making their safety and reliability vital to broader transportation infrastructure. The funding opportunity offers up to $2.5 million in total program funding, with a single award expected for FY25. The grant does not require cost sharing or matching contributions. The Short Line Safety Institute is the sole eligible applicant for this opportunity, making this an exclusive funding channel rather than a competitive grant. This exclusivity underscores the program’s design as a continuation and expansion of the Institute’s established activities and Congressional mandate. Applications for this grant opened on July 16, 2025, and must be submitted by August 8, 2025. There are no pre-application deadlines, letters of intent, or concept paper requirements indicated in the opportunity announcement. Evaluation of submissions will be conducted by the FRA, though specific criteria or review procedures are not provided in the summary. Applicants must submit their materials electronically via Grants.gov. Additional resources and documentation may be available through the linked opportunity information and support from the GrantSolutions Help Desk. The help desk can be contacted by phone at 1-866-577-0771 or 202-401-5282, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. There is no mention of recurring funding in the synopsis, nor are there details on expected award or notification timelines beyond the stated application window. The archive date for the opportunity is September 7, 2025. The FY25 Short Line Safety Institute Program remains a crucial investment in the operational safety culture of America’s short line and regional railroads. With an exclusive focus on the SLSI, it ensures the continuity and enhancement of a targeted initiative designed to reduce risk and improve safety outcomes across a critical segment of the national rail network.