Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Federal Rail Administration (FRA) is now accepting grant applications for its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The Notice of Funding Opportunity was published March 29, 2024, and it is a combined opportunity for FY 2023 and FY 2024. A combined $2,478,391,050 can be awarded as part of this funding opportunity. Applications must be submitted by May 28, 2024.
The purpose of the CRISI Program is to invest in a wide range of projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors.
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to submit a CRISI application to the FRA. The Department of Public Service (DPS) has identified a project candidate on Columbus’ far west side. The project would create a new, separated crossing by extending Galloway Road to Hilliard-Rome Road and close the existing at-grade rail crossing (DOT #513244C) on Hilliard Rome Road. The existing at-grade crossing is owned by Norfolk Southern Railway Company. The total project cost is estimated to be approximately $33,299,240; and the Ohio Railway Development Commission has committed up to $3,329,924 towards the project from Governor DeWine’s Ohio Grade Crossing Elimination Program.
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Service to formally apply for a CRISI grant from USDOT’s FRA. It also authorizes the execution of agreements with USDOT or others in connection with the application for the grant, the award of the grant, the expenditure of grant funds, and the return of unused grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial pa...
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