Opportunity Information: Apply for FR CRS 21 001
The Front Range Passenger Rail Preliminary Service Development Plan and Railroad Simulation Modeling Study is a discretionary grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The overarching aim of the CRISI Program is to support rail investments that strengthen the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail transportation. In practice, this specific opportunity centers on advancing early-stage planning and technical analysis for passenger rail service along Colorado's Front Range, with an emphasis on developing a preliminary service development plan and conducting railroad simulation modeling to understand how proposed passenger operations would perform alongside existing rail traffic.
The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number FR CRS 21 001 and carries a CFDA number of 20.325, placing it within the federal transportation assistance framework for rail infrastructure and safety improvements. The funding instrument is a grant, and the program is structured as a competitive, discretionary award rather than a formula allocation. The posted award ceiling is $548,000, and the agency anticipated making a single award, indicating that this solicitation was designed to fund one focused project or lead applicant effort rather than multiple smaller awards spread across different recipients.
Eligibility is primarily aimed at state governments, with additional eligibility flexibility noted under an "Others" category that requires reference to the full eligibility clarification in the source notice. This structure typically reflects FRA grant programs where states often serve as lead applicants for corridor-level passenger rail initiatives, while allowing for participation by other entities when explicitly permitted by the solicitation. The opportunity was created on May 4, 2021, with an original closing date of May 5, 2021, which suggests a very short application window for this particular posting, potentially due to a targeted selection process, a continuation action, or alignment with a specific project timeline.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as targeted support for planning and operations analysis work that helps define feasible passenger rail service concepts and evaluates them using simulation tools. By funding development of a preliminary service development plan and modeling, the FRA helps applicants build the technical foundation needed to improve rail system performance and to prepare for later-stage decisions about service design, infrastructure needs, capacity constraints, scheduling, and interactions between passenger and freight operations, all of which tie directly to CRISI's goals of safer, more efficient, and more reliable rail transportation.Apply for FR CRS 21 001
- The Department of Transportation, DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Front Range Passenger Rail Preliminary Service Development Plan and Railroad Simulation Modeling Study" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.325.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 05, 2021 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $548,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Front Range Passenger Rail Preliminary Service Development Plan and Railroad Simulation Modeling Study (CRISI) - FAQs
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled the "Front Range Passenger Rail Preliminary Service Development Plan and Railroad Simulation Modeling Study."
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What program is this grant offered under?
The funding is offered under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
What is the main purpose of the CRISI Program?
The overarching aim of CRISI is to support rail investments that strengthen the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail transportation.
What is the focus of this specific CRISI opportunity?
This opportunity focuses on early-stage planning and technical analysis for passenger rail service along Colorado's Front Range. It emphasizes (1) developing a preliminary service development plan and (2) conducting railroad simulation modeling to evaluate how proposed passenger operations would perform alongside existing rail traffic.
What kinds of activities or work does this grant support?
Based on the description provided, the supported work centers on planning and operations analysis, specifically creating a preliminary service development plan and performing railroad simulation modeling to understand proposed passenger service performance and its interaction with current rail operations.
What is meant by a "preliminary service development plan" in this context?
The opportunity describes a preliminary service development plan as part of the early-stage planning foundation for passenger rail. The grant is intended to support work that helps define feasible passenger rail service concepts and prepares for later-stage decisions related to service design and related needs.
What is railroad simulation modeling, and why is it included?
Railroad simulation modeling is included to evaluate how proposed passenger rail operations might function alongside existing rail traffic. The modeling helps inform later decisions about capacity constraints, scheduling, infrastructure needs, and interactions between passenger and freight operations.
Where is the project geographically focused?
The work is focused on Colorado's Front Range passenger rail corridor.
Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?
This is a competitive, discretionary award rather than a formula allocation.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR CRS 21 001.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 20.325.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The posted award ceiling is $548,000.
How many awards did FRA expect to make?
The agency anticipated making a single award, suggesting the solicitation was intended to fund one focused project or lead applicant effort rather than multiple awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is primarily aimed at state governments. An "Others" category is also noted, but it requires reference to the full eligibility clarification in the source notice.
Does the listing explicitly allow applicants beyond state governments?
It notes an "Others" eligibility category, but the details are not included in the provided information and would require checking the full eligibility clarification in the source notice.
When was this funding opportunity created (posted)?
The opportunity was created on May 4, 2021.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date was May 5, 2021.
How long was the application window based on the dates provided?
Based on the posted creation date (May 4, 2021) and original closing date (May 5, 2021), the application window appears to have been very short.
Why might the application window have been so short?
The provided description suggests the short window could reflect a targeted selection process, a continuation action, or alignment with a specific project timeline. No additional explanation is provided beyond that.
How does this planning and modeling work connect to CRISI goals?
The grant supports development of the technical foundation needed to improve rail system performance and prepare for later-stage decisions about service design, infrastructure needs, capacity constraints, scheduling, and passenger-freight interactions. These outcomes tie directly to CRISI's goals of safer, more efficient, and more reliable rail transportation.
Is this opportunity focused on construction or on planning?
As described, it is focused on early-stage planning and technical analysis (a preliminary service development plan and simulation modeling), not on construction activities.
What is the practical benefit of funding a preliminary plan and simulation modeling?
The practical benefit described is that it helps define feasible passenger rail service concepts and evaluates them with simulation tools. That supports later decisions regarding service design, infrastructure needs, capacity and scheduling constraints, and how passenger service would interact with freight and other existing rail traffic.
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