Biden-Harris Administration Announces $4.17 Million in Infrastructure Funding to Improve Rail Safety and Strengthen Supply Chains in South Carolina

Press Release

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced today that it has invested $4.17 million in South Carolina from President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Law into rail improvement projects. Nationally, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invested more than $1.4 billion into 70 rail improvement projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C. This is the largest amount ever awarded for rail safety and rail supply chain upgrades through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. 

As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, federal investments are tackling long-standing rail needs by supporting communities nationwide to help get people and goods where they need to be safely, quickly, and conveniently. Projects selected through the CRISI program, which is four times larger since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, support community safety through track improvements, bridge rehabilitations, fewer highway-rail grade crossings, upgrades on routes carrying hazardous materials, and more. Selected projects also improve connectivity, reduce shipping costs, increase resiliency to extreme weather, reduce emissions, and support workforce development.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, we are making historic investments in rail, which means fewer accidents and delays, faster travel times, and lower shipping costs for the American people,” said USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These projects will make American rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, delivering tangible benefits to dozens of communities where railroads are located, and strengthening supply chains for the entire country.”

“For years, the CRISI Program has helped to maintain and modernize America’s freight rail network, and it’s the only federal grant program prioritizing smaller, short line railroads vital to our nation’s economy and regional supply chains. With unprecedented levels of funding through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FRA is advancing even more projects and laying the groundwork for further transformation,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “The selected projects will tackle issues facing communities and invest in a 21st century rail network yielding greater benefits – faster and more reliable deliveries of goods, safer communities, cleaner transportation, and more jobs and workforce development opportunities.”

In South Carolina, selected projects include:

• Procurement and Retrofitting of Two Zero-Emission Lithium-Ion Battery Electric-Powered Locomotives Project (Up to $ 4,170,000)
  • South Carolina Department of Commerce
  • The project involves final design and construction activities for two zero emission lithium battery-electric-powered locomotives and associated charging technology installation. The project will help Palmetto Railways sustainably expand locomotive capacity for its existing and future planned industries. The new locomotives incorporate new technology that will provide a large reduction in diesel emissions, improve safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address environmental justice issues in nearby disadvantaged communities. Palmetto Railways will provide a 35 percent non-Federal match.

While the majority of selected projects support freight rail safety and supply chains, CRISI investments are also helping to expand world-class passenger rail to more communities nationwide.

For the full list of Fiscal Year 2022 CRISI project selections, please click here. Further information about the many benefits of FRA’s CRISI Program is also available here.

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