Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 26 002
The FY26 Short Line Safety Institute Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), designed to strengthen safety and safety culture across the short line and regional railroad industry. The funding is aimed specifically at supporting the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) in carrying out its core mission and advancing its strategic goals through a coordinated set of activities intended to reduce risk, improve operating practices, and reinforce a proactive safety mindset throughout the sector.
This grant centers on SLSI's "Four Pillars" approach. First, it funds safety culture assessments, which typically involve evaluating how an organization approaches safety in day-to-day decision-making, leadership commitment, communication, reporting, and accountability. Second, it supports education and training, helping the short line and regional rail workforce access structured learning and practical guidance that can translate into safer operations, better compliance, and stronger internal safety management practices. Third, it supports communications, which includes sharing safety information, lessons learned, and effective practices across the industry in a way that encourages consistent attention to safety and helps organizations learn from one another. Fourth, it supports research, allowing SLSI to develop and refine evidence-based strategies, tools, and insights that address real-world safety challenges faced by smaller railroads and can be used to guide training, assessments, and outreach.
Administratively, this is a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) under a transportation activity category and is listed under CFDA/Assistance Listing number 20.332. The opportunity number is FR RRD 26 002, and it is classified as discretionary funding, meaning awards are made based on agency priorities and program alignment rather than a formula distribution. The program anticipates a single award, with an award ceiling of $2,425,000, reflecting an intent to fund one comprehensive effort rather than multiple smaller projects.
Eligibility is limited: the Short Line Safety Institute is the only entity eligible to apply. That restriction makes the purpose of the opportunity straightforward: it is not an open competition for a broad range of applicants, but rather targeted federal support to enable SLSI to deliver industry-wide safety culture programming and related services. The posting was created on 2026-07-20, and the original closing date is 2026-07-25, indicating a short application window consistent with a sole-eligible-applicant structure.
In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to keep SLSI's safety culture work active and scalable, ensuring the short line and regional railroad community has continued access to assessments, training, communications resources, and research that can lead to measurable improvements in safety performance and organizational safety culture.Apply for FR RRD 26 002
- The DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 Short Line Safety Institute Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.332.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,425,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FY26 Short Line Safety Institute Program (FRA) - FAQs
What is the FY26 Short Line Safety Institute Program?
The FY26 Short Line Safety Institute Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It is designed to strengthen safety and safety culture across the short line and regional railroad industry by funding the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) to carry out its mission and strategic goals.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to provide targeted federal support to SLSI so it can deliver coordinated, industry-wide activities intended to reduce risk, improve operating practices, and reinforce a proactive safety mindset throughout the short line and regional railroad sector.
What kind of funding is this (formula or discretionary)?
This is discretionary funding. Awards are made based on agency priorities and program alignment rather than through a formula distribution.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 20.332.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is FR RRD 26 002.
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is $2,425,000.
How many awards does the program anticipate making?
The program anticipates a single award, reflecting an intent to fund one comprehensive effort rather than multiple smaller projects.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI). SLSI is the only entity eligible to apply.
Is this an open competition for multiple organizations?
No. The opportunity is targeted and not an open competition for a broad range of applicants. It is structured to provide federal support specifically to SLSI to deliver industry-wide safety culture programming and related services.
What industry or sector does this funding support?
The funding is aimed at strengthening safety and safety culture across the short line and regional railroad industry.
What activity category is this grant listed under?
The opportunity is listed under a transportation activity category.
What approach does SLSI use that this grant supports?
The grant centers on SLSI's "Four Pillars" approach: safety culture assessments, education and training, communications, and research.
What are safety culture assessments under this program?
Safety culture assessments typically involve evaluating how an organization approaches safety in day-to-day decision-making, including leadership commitment, communication practices, reporting, and accountability.
What does the education and training pillar support?
It supports structured learning and practical guidance for the short line and regional rail workforce, with the goal of translating training into safer operations, better compliance, and stronger internal safety management practices.
What does the communications pillar include?
Communications includes sharing safety information, lessons learned, and effective practices across the industry in a way that encourages consistent attention to safety and helps organizations learn from one another.
What does the research pillar support?
Research support allows SLSI to develop and refine evidence-based strategies, tools, and insights that address real-world safety challenges faced by smaller railroads. These outputs can be used to guide training, assessments, and outreach.
Why does the opportunity have a short application window?
The posting date is 2026-07-20 and the original closing date is 2026-07-25. The short window is consistent with a sole-eligible-applicant structure where only one entity (SLSI) is eligible to apply.
When was the opportunity posted?
The posting was created on 2026-07-20.
What is the original closing date?
The original closing date is 2026-07-25.
What outcomes is this grant intended to support?
In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to keep SLSI's safety culture work active and scalable so the short line and regional railroad community has continued access to assessments, training, communications resources, and research that can lead to measurable improvements in safety performance and organizational safety culture.
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Apply for FR RRD 26 002
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