Local Rail-Highway Grade Crossing Safety Program (Section 130)

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in coordination with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), has issued Circular Letter 2023-34 announcing two distinct but related funding opportunities aimed at enhancing rail-highway grade crossing safety throughout Illinois. The two programs are: the IDOT Section 130 Program for Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026, and the ICC Crossing Safety Improvement Program (CSIP) for Fiscal Years 2025 through 2029. These programs are independently administered and funded, but they share overlapping goals in reducing collisions and improving safety infrastructure at rail crossings statewide. The IDOT Section 130 Program is federally funded and supports local rail-highway grade crossing safety projects. Its core objectives include the installation or upgrade of warning devices such as automatic flashing light signals and gates, and construction or reconstruction of new grade separations, including bridges or overpasses. This program only considers new grade separation projects and does not include vertical clearance improvements. IDOT places a strong emphasis on projects involving warning devices, circuitry upgrades, and crossing closures. Surface improvements are only eligible if they are paired with signal upgrades. Additionally, the program offers up to $100,000 in incentives for voluntary crossing closures when coordinated with railroad partners. The ICC CSIP is funded through the state's Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) and covers a broader five-year window. It includes similar safety improvements but also uniquely supports vertical clearance projects, stand-alone surface renewals, and trespass mitigation efforts such as fencing. The ICC program also allows for funding of remote monitoring devices, pedestrian-grade separations, highway approaches, and interconnect upgrades where rail signals are synchronized with adjacent traffic signals. Like the IDOT program, the ICC provides funding for closing unsafe crossings and building connecting roads to nearby, safer crossings. Eligibility for both programs is limited to local public agencies within Illinois, including counties, municipalities, townships, and consulting engineers working on their behalf. Applications must be location-specific and include completed forms, location maps, photographs, cost estimates, and proposed design details where necessary. While co-applicants are not mandatory, collaboration between local agencies and railroads is encouraged to ensure mutual understanding of costs and responsibilities. Applications with incomplete information may be returned for revision. The deadline for submitting applications to the ICC CSIP program is January 15, 2024. Applications for the IDOT Section 130 Program are due by February 2, 2024, at 11:59 PM. Submissions must be sent electronically using the designated application forms, which require downloading and may not be compatible with browsers or mobile devices. Post-submission, IDOT may perform on-site inspections before selecting projects. Award announcements are expected shortly after reviews are completed. Applicants may direct their questions for the ICC program to Aaron Toliver at Aaron.Toliver@illinois.gov. For IDOT inquiries, contact William Pearsall at William.Pearsall@illinois.gov or the Rail Safety Projects Unit via DOT.LRSRail@illinois.gov or by phone at (217) 782-3568. Additional details, forms, and submission portals can be accessed via the ICC’s and IDOT’s official websites. Interested agencies are encouraged to act promptly, as projects for FY 2025–2026 (IDOT) and FY 2025–2029 (ICC) will be prioritized during the current evaluation window.

Discuss plans with co-applicant; Incomplete applications may be returned; Use full form instructions