Freight Railroad Preservation Program

Overview

Grants up to 80% of project cost for line acquisition/rehabilitation on publicly owned lines. Over $326M awarded since 1980; ~$8M bonding authority + $13M segregated funds available; debt service estimated at $40.7M in the 2025-27 biennium. No fixed cycle stated.

Uses

• Line Acquisition
• Track Rehabilitation
• Bridge

Funding

Max share

80%

Eligibility

• Class I
• Private Industrial

Restricted to applicants in Wisconsin.

Terms

• Mechanism: Competitive Grant
• SAM.gov registration: required

Track Record

Funded, on record

58 awards

Total awarded, on record

$103,021,878

Win rate

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

• WRRTC/UP$29,404,000 · FY2015
• WSOR$5,200,000 · FY2003
• WSOR$4,695,899 · FY2009
• WRRTC$4,294,337 · FY1988
• WSOR$4,124,750 · FY2010

See every confirmed award, with sources →

Recipients

• Unclassified · 58

• WSOR$36,548,999 · 24 awards
• WRRTC/UP$29,504,000 · 2 awards
• WRRTC$9,671,083 · 8 awards
• Port of Milwaukee$8,669,304 · 4 awards
• E&LS$3,767,704 · 2 awards
• City of Madison$3,068,800 · 1 award
• Northeast Wisconsin Railroad Transp. Commission$2,375,760 · 2 awards
• WSOR, EWCRC$2,200,000 · 1 award
• Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission$1,876,945 · 2 awards
• City of Baraboo$1,400,000 · 1 award
• WSOR, WRRTC$1,106,927 · 1 award
• Fitchburg / Oregon$859,985 · 1 award
• Escanaba & Lake Superior$732,749 · 1 award
• Wisconsin & Southern$302,928 · 2 awards
• City of New London$279,413 · 1 award
• EWCRC$232,824 · 2 awards
• South Central WI Rail Transit Commission$196,684 · 1 award
• Washburn County TC$193,350 · 1 award
• Rat River Railroad$34,423 · 1 award

How to Apply