What actually happens to CRISI on October 1

On August 8 the Senate voted 90-6 to extend surface transportation authority through December 11 — but that CR explicitly does not extend IIJA's Division J advance appropriations, the roughly $156 billion in funding that actually pays for CRISI, PIDP, and Fed-State Partnership. Per a Holland & Knight client alert, without Division J those programs face a 50 to 100 percent cut from IIJA levels, and federal transportation funding broadly faces a projected $36.8 billion annual shortfall starting October 1. The FY25-26 CRISI round already closed in June and isn't affected — what's at stake is the next round. December 11 is the next real deadline; we'll cover what happens before then, not after.

Awards announced

Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority won $25 million in FY2021 CRISI funding for a Wells, Maine siding project

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded $24,995,403 to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority in FY2021 CRISI funding for the Wells Area Improvement Project on the Downeaster corridor. The project extends the existing No. 2 siding track roughly 11,000 feet, adding operational flexibility and capacity meant to help NNEPRA grow Portland-Boston service from five round trips toward a phased goal of seven, per the authority's 2016 corridor service development plan.

Awards announced

Florida DOT won $17.6 million in FY2023 CRISI funding to untangle a three-railroad interchange in Jacksonville

The Federal Railroad Administration awarded $17,615,500 to the Florida Department of Transportation in FY2023 CRISI funding to improve operations where CSX, Florida East Coast Railway, and Norfolk Southern interchange in Jacksonville. Upgraded switches, grade-crossing safety improvements, and new communication infrastructure are meant to cut delays for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, improve emergency-vehicle access to a major medical center nearby, limit trespasser access to the tracks, and reduce stationary locomotive emissions.

Recent awards

Alaska Railroad Corp / Matanuska-Susitna Borough — $184,000,000, AK-LEG-CAPEX FY2026
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway — $5,900,000, PA-RFAP FY2026
Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway — $4,845,392, NC-FRRCSI FY2026
Conrail — $4,837,315.5, NJ-RFAP FY2026
Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad — $4,000,000, PA-RFAP FY2026

See every confirmed award →

Upcoming deadlines

VA-RPF — closes Feb 1, 2027

See the full deadline calendar →

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