FY16 Short Line Safety Institute Program Development | FR RRD 16 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 16 004

The FY16 Short Line Safety Institute Program Development opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FR RRD 16 004) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under CFDA 20.313. It was created on July 13, 2016, with an original application closing date of July 21, 2016. The funding reflects a specific Congressional appropriation intended to support the work of the Short Line Safety Institute, which is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity.

The core purpose of the grant is to fund the Short Line Safety Institute's efforts to strengthen safety culture and improve safety performance across short line and regional railroads. The Institute's mission is centered on providing leadership that advances safety through voluntary and non-punitive partnerships, meaning the approach is designed to encourage cooperation and candid participation rather than enforcement-driven compliance activities. In practical terms, the funding supports an industry-focused safety improvement model that relies on collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility for risk reduction.

The Institute's strategic goals, as described in the opportunity, are twofold: first, to enhance and improve safety practices, and second, to increase the overall culture of commitment to safety within the short line and regional railroad sector. The grant supports these goals through what the announcement describes as four main "pillars" of activity. These pillars include safety culture assessments (efforts to evaluate and understand an organization's safety attitudes, behaviors, and systems), education and training (developing and delivering learning opportunities to improve safety knowledge and competence), research (work aimed at identifying safety issues and developing evidence-based improvements), and communications (sharing information, best practices, and safety messaging throughout the industry).

The award ceiling for the opportunity is listed as $1,900,000. While the listing references "Expected Awards," no specific number of anticipated awards is provided in the source data. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is classified under science and technology and other research and development, aligning with the program's emphasis on assessment, training development, research, and dissemination of safety-related findings and practices.

Eligibility is intentionally narrow and exclusive. Only the Short Line Safety Institute is eligible to apply, which matches the nature of the opportunity as a direct Congressional appropriation to a named organization rather than a broadly competitive grant competition open to multiple applicants.

• The DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY16 Short Line Safety Institute Program Development" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.313.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-07-21. (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 $1,900,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for FR RRD 16 004

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