Amit Bose, FRA administrator, June 14, 2022
March 2023 — ASLRRA CRISI Position Paper
July 19, 2022 - ASLRRA Letter to Senate THUD — FY23 Appropriations
June 16, 2022 - ASLRRA Letter to House THUD — FY23 Appropriations
June 2, 2022 - FY 2021 CRISI Grant - List of Short Line Railroad Recipients
November 17, 2021 - United States House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Hearing on “Industry and Labor Perspectives: A Further Look at North American Supply Chain Challenges”, Testimony submitted by Chuck Baker, ASLRRA President
Short lines provide a critical connection between the U.S. and the global economy for multiple industries - particularly in small town and rural America. The short line industry's 600 small business railroads operate 50,000 miles of track, much of which was abandoned after decades of neglect by prior owners. As the first- and last- mile provider to more than 10,000 shippers nationwide, short line railroads must keep pace with technology and upgrade outdated rail to ensure the continued seamless movement of goods and freight throughout the U.S. freight rail system.
The CRISI program is vital for maintaining this infrastructure. Short line railroads can apply directly (rather than with or through other government entities) for grants that provide transformative improvements to the freight network and enhance the supply chain.
Learn More about Applying for CRISI Grants
To maximize the value of the CRISI Grant Program, Congress should:
– Provide a full authorization — coupled with the advance appropriations — allowing more railroads to double down on safety enhancements, bolster network fluidity, move more freight off highways to a greener, more sustainable alternative, and help ensure rural and urban communities can move goods efficiently to U.S. and world markets.
– Avoid provisions that would limit, or carve out, available funds from being used to bolster the freight network.