The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under the U.S. Department of Transportation, is administering a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity intended solely for Amtrak, officially known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. This opportunity, titled "National Network IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation," is supported by Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021. The FRA's Office of Passenger and Freight Programs oversees this funding initiative, which focuses on strengthening the National Network passenger rail infrastructure.
The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to allocate approximately $3.13 billion in FY26 supplemental funds to Amtrak. These funds are designated for replacing outdated single-level passenger rolling stock, addressing a backlog of deferred capital work, upgrading obsolete assets, and undertaking projects that will bring Amtrak-served stations into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The funds may also be used for other relevant activities required to maintain and improve Amtrak’s National Network operations.
The only eligible applicant for this opportunity is Amtrak, reflecting the statutory directive of the funding. As such, this grant does not entertain competition from other entities. Amtrak must submit a completed application package through the GrantSolutions system. Required application components include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424B and SF-424D assurances (for non-construction and construction programs, respectively), a Statement of Work or project summary, and signed copies of the FRA Assurances and Certifications.
Applications must be submitted electronically by November 18, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. The opportunity was officially posted on October 29, 2025, and will be archived on December 18, 2025. Applications are not accepted on a rolling basis, and no pre-application requirements such as a Letter of Intent or Concept Paper are indicated.
Applicants seeking technical assistance or guidance regarding program requirements may contact Emily Chan from the Office of Railroad Development at Wingkam.Chan@dot.gov or 202-981-2271. For administrative or budget-related inquiries, Lou Lorello from the Office of the Railroad Chief Financial Officer is available at Lou.Lorello@dot.gov or 202-440-2563. General support with the GrantSolutions submission system is also available through the GrantSolutions Help Desk.
