The Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo recently announced that the FRA will soon begin accepting grant applications for the deployment of positive train control (PTC) collision avoidance systems and complementary advanced technologies under a new $50 million Rail Safety Technology Program.
FRA will begin accepting grant applications on April 9, 2010. Eligible applicants include passenger and freight rail carriers, railroad suppliers and state and local governments. “Safety is our highest priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These grants will help us get the right kinds of technologies out there to prevent train collisions and other accidents.” The program requires that the funded PTC projects or related systems be ready for deployment within 24 months of the grant award.
“This grant program will accelerate the installation of PTC on key portions of the nation’s rail system,” said Administrator Szabo. “We are glad that we can help railroads meet the statutory deadline of 2015 for PTC implementation, and look forward to working with them to achieve that goal.”
Click here to view the release from the FRA.
Click here to view the Amtrak statement on its grant application and positive train control.
