FY19 Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program | FR FSP 19 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR FSP 19 002

The FY19 Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program (Funding Opportunity Number FR FSP 19 002) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning awardees should expect an ongoing working relationship with FRA during project delivery, including coordination on scope, milestones, reporting, and compliance requirements typical of federally supported rail capital projects. The program sits within the transportation funding category and is listed under CFDA 20.326.

The central goal of the program is to fund capital projects in the United States that repair, replace, or rehabilitate qualified railroad assets. The focus is specifically on reducing the rail system "state of good repair" backlog and improving intercity passenger rail performance. In practical terms, the program targets aging or deteriorated rail infrastructure and equipment that, if left unaddressed, can lead to slower operations, service disruptions, reliability problems, safety concerns, and higher long-term maintenance costs. By directing funds to bring key assets back to a dependable condition, the program aims to support more consistent and higher-performing passenger rail service across corridors that depend on shared or interlinked infrastructure.

Eligible projects, as described in the opportunity, include several broad categories of capital work. Projects may replace existing assets on an in-kind basis, which generally means substituting worn-out components with equivalent modern versions to restore performance and reliability. Projects may also replace existing assets with upgraded assets that increase capacity or provide a higher level of service, which can include improvements that reduce bottlenecks, raise throughput, or enhance operational flexibility while still addressing state-of-good-repair needs. The program also supports projects designed to ensure service can be maintained while existing assets are being brought back into a state of good repair, recognizing that major rehabilitation often must occur without shutting down vital rail routes. Finally, projects may directly bring existing assets into a state of good repair through rehabilitation or refurbishment, which could include structural renewals, track and signal improvements, bridge and tunnel work, or other major capital interventions that extend useful life and improve performance.

The eligible applicant pool includes state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, along with other entities as permitted under additional eligibility guidance referenced in the notice (the source text notes "Others" and points to a clarification field). This structure reflects the program's emphasis on federal-state partnership, where public-sector sponsors and rail stakeholders collaborate to deliver improvements with clear public benefits, especially for intercity passenger rail.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $396,000,000 and anticipates making about 15 awards. While the exact size of individual awards can vary by project scale and merit, these figures suggest the program is intended to support a relatively small number of high-impact capital projects rather than a large number of smaller planning grants. The funding opportunity was created on October 8, 2019, and had an original application deadline of December 9, 2019.

• The Department of Transportation, DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY19 Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.326.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 08, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 09, 2019 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 $396,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for FR FSP 19 002

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