North Carolina Railroad Company and NC State University Receive Historic $3 Million FRA Grant to Launch Rail Safety Initiative

Partnerships

Jan 27, 2025

Copied to clipboard.

The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR), in a public-private partnership with NC State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE), garnered $3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as part of the historic $1.1 billion Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program.

The first education FRA grant of its kind, the project will establish RailTAP (Rail Technical Assistance Program), a training and education initiative aimed at improving safety and reducing accidents at highway-rail grade crossings. The program strives to reduce collisions, injuries, and risks associated with rail crossings by educating the public and workers about crossing hazards, promoting safety practices, and providing localized training for those involved with rail crossings.

This unprecedented grant represents a transformative investment in rail safety, and we’re proud to see North Carolina benefit from this historic initiative. Partnering with NC State University allows us to focus on reducing collisions, injuries, and risks at rail crossings across the state, creating safer communities for all who live, work, and travel here.

Trish Haver

Chief Commercial Officer

NCRR

With NCRR providing the required 20 percent non-federal funding match, this collaborative training initiative aligns with federal planning and safety education priorities and aims to enhance railroad crossing safety across North Carolina.

RailTAP Steering Committee members will play a vital role in enhancing rail safety by guiding the development of training and awareness courses; highlighting critical safety needs for North Carolina’s communities and beyond; and shaping strategies to improve safety for the rail industry, citizens, and first responders.

Our research on rail trespassing and rail crossing safety illustrates the significant challenges and opportunities around making rail crossings safer for all, and the scale of this funding is a clear demonstration that the FRA agrees. We’re excited to partner with NCRR to build and launch RailTAP, which will be a great addition to the Technical Assistance Programs currently administered at ITRE: NC LTAP and NC AirTAP, which educate road maintenance and airport professionals across the state.

Daniel Findley

Associate Director

Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE)

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, this $1.1 billion investment in the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program represents the largest single commitment to grade crossing safety in FRA history. The rail investment underscores FRA’s historic $48.5 billion allocation from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance safety and infrastructure improvements across more than 445 rail projects nationwide.

About the North Carolina Railroad Company

The North Carolina Railroad Company is the one private railroad company that has been driving economic growth for North Carolina for more than 175 years. The company manages 317 miles of rail corridor, transforming its trusted expertise and unique assets into economic advantages. The company’s mission is to focus on our rail & safety expertise, assets, and advantageous corridor to provide dynamic services and best-in-class solutions. Our vision is a railroad company promoting and facilitating opportunities leading to economic gains for North Carolina.

About NC State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education

The Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) makes transportation safer, more equitable, and more accessible through surface and air transportation research, technical services, and workforce training. As the transportation-focused institutional center at NC State, ITRE brings a people-centered, holistic approach to its work addressing critical transportation needs and providing capacity and expertise across various modes of transportation for municipal, state, federal, and international clients. ITRE’s team consists of approximately 50 full-time staff collaborating across disciplines with faculty, students, and private industry to provide valuable deliverables to sponsors and the community.