The

U.S. Transportation Department

(USDOT) on Friday announced

$

1.1 billion

in grants are available through the

Federal Railroad Administration

’s (FRA)

Railroad Crossing Elimination

(RCE) program, which also is known as the Crossing Safety program.

The USDOT has issued a

notice of funding opportunity

that

outlines application criteria. Grant applications are due June 8.

Grant funds can be used to build overpasses or underpasses, upgrade safety technology at crossings, relocate tracks

to close a

crossing

and promote education on how to cross tracks safely.

E

ach

year, more than 2,000 incidents and 300 fatalities occur at crossings nationwide

.

The FRA’s RCE program focuses on crossing projects designed to improve the safety and mobility of people and goods,

eliminate

crossings that are

frequently

blocked by trains and educate communities on crossings safety.

“P

rotecting Americans from railroad crossing collisions is a top priority,” said FRA Administrator David Fink

in a press release

. “From installing automated equipment to eliminating unsafe crossings, we are committed to delivering a safer railroad system for Americans.”

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