Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73

§20158 Railroad safety technology grants

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— - RAIL PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - SAFETY › Chapter CHAPTER 201— - GENERAL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY › § 20158

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates grants to deploy railroad safety technologies. Eligible recipients are passenger and freight railroads, suppliers, and state/local governments. Grants fund projects to improve safety and efficiency, including train control, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, rail inspection, and switch monitoring. Priority goes to interoperable systems, faster train control on high‑risk corridors, or projects helping both. Applicants must submit plans in sections 20156(e)(2) and 20157. Federal share up to 80%. $50,000,000 per year authorized for FY2009–2013, available until spent.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §20158

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a grant program for the deployment of train control technologies, train control component technologies, processor-based technologies, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, rail integrity inspection systems, rail integrity warning systems, switch position indicators and monitors, remote control power switch technologies, track integrity circuit technologies, and other new or novel railroad safety technology.

(b)(1)Grants shall be made under this section to eligible passenger and freight railroad carriers, railroad suppliers, and State and local governments for projects described in subsection (a) that have a public benefit of improved safety and network efficiency.

(2)Priority shall be given to projects that—

(A)focus on making technologies interoperable between railroad systems, such as train control technologies;

(B)accelerate train control technology deployment on high-risk corridors, such as those that have high volumes of hazardous materials shipments or over which commuter or passenger trains operate; or

(C)benefit both passenger and freight safety and efficiency.

(3)Grants may not be awarded under this section to entities that fail to develop and submit to the Secretary the plans required by section 20156(e)(2) and 20157.

(4)Federal funds for any eligible project under this section shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of such project.

(c)There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out this section. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall remain available until expended.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 20158

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73