Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement

Overview

Parent program with subprograms: Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program (~50% of funds), Rail Industrial Access Program (up to 50% of cost, capped $400,000/project via point system), and Freight Rail Diversion Program. Rolling monthly application intake. FY2026 round: $16.3M NCDOT contribution leveraging $41.5M total.

Uses

• Bridge
• Grade Crossing
• Signal Ptc
• Industrial Spur
• Transload Intermodal
• Safety Technology
• Siding Passing Track
• Track Rehabilitation

Funding

Typical award

$400,000

Eligibility

• Port Authority
• Municipality
• County
• Nonprofit
• Private Industrial
• Transload Operator
• Class Iii

Restricted to applicants in North Carolina.

Terms

• Mechanism: Competitive Grant
• Authorized under N.C.G.S. §124-5.1
• SAM.gov registration: required

Track Record

Funded, on record

15 awards

Total awarded, on record

$16,303,426

Win rate

Not available — our records only cover who won, not who applied.

• Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway$4,845,392 · FY2026
• Great Smoky Mountains Railroad$1,680,614 · FY2026
• Carolina Coastal Railway$1,230,000 · FY2026
• Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad$1,112,500 · FY2026
• Raleigh & Fayetteville Railroad$999,586 · FY2026

See every confirmed award, with sources →

Recipients

• Short Line · 13
• Port · 2

• Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway$4,845,392 · 1 award
• Great Smoky Mountains Railroad$1,680,614 · 1 award
• Carolina Coastal Railway$1,230,000 · 1 award
• Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad$1,112,500 · 1 award
• North Carolina Ports (Morehead City)$1,022,360 · 2 awards
• Raleigh & Fayetteville Railroad$999,586 · 1 award
• North Carolina and Virginia Railroad$979,813 · 1 award
• Alexander Railroad Company$876,823 · 2 awards
• Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad$771,397 · 1 award
• Yadkin Valley Railroad$754,700 · 1 award
• Chesapeake & Albemarle Railroad$712,801 · 1 award
• Atlantic & Western Railway$690,440 · 1 award
• Wilmington Terminal Railroad$627,000 · 1 award

How to Apply