Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73not60

§20158 Railroad Safety Technology Grants

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

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation must set up a grant program to help deploy railroad safety technologies. It covers things like train control systems, processor-based systems, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, rail inspection and warning systems, switch monitors, remote switch tech, track integrity circuits, and other new safety tech. Grants go to passenger and freight railroads, suppliers, and state or local governments for projects that improve safety and network efficiency. Priority goes to projects that make systems work together, speed train control on high-risk corridors (for example routes with lots of hazardous materials or passenger service), or help both passenger and freight operations. Applicants must have submitted the plans required by sections 20156(e)(2) and 20157. Federal funds can pay no more than 80% of a project. Congress authorized $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013, and those funds remain 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 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60