The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) just opened.  There's over $2 billion available and the deadline to apply is June 22, 2026. Now (as in, this week) is the time to assess whether your railtown has a qualifying project. This program is one of the most direct federal funding opportunities available to address them.

Most of today’s rail-community conflicts are about misalignment, not bad actors. They’re the consequence of infrastructure decisions made years or decades ago, without a full understanding of how rail systems would operate today or how community growth would unfold around them. Towns live with the consequences, and railroads are often blamed for conditions they didn’t create and may not be able to legally or operationally change.

The FY2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Notice of Funding Opportunity has officially dropped. We want to give you a clear read on what’s in it, what’s changed from last time, and what it will take to be competitive this round.