# FY21 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (Rail Safety IDEA)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/fr-rrd-21-001-fy21-rail-safety-innovations-deserving-exploratory-analysis/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/333264

> DOT - Federal Railroad Administration offered grants of up to $400,000 to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award worth $400,000 in total. Applications closed on May 14, 2021.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | FR-RRD-21-001 |
| Agency | DOT - Federal Railroad Administration |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | May 14, 2021 |
| Award ceiling | $400,000 |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 1 |
| Total funding | $400,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 20.313 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

The National Academy of Sciences is the only entity eligible to apply

## What the grant funds

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) programs explore promising but unproven concepts with the potential to advance specific surface transportation systems. The Rail Safety IDEA program investigates innovative concepts and methods to improve safety and performance of railroads. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) endeavors to provide funding for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to continue to carry out the Rail Safety IDEA program. FRA funding for the Safety IDEA program has been provided since October 2002. FRA joined the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), as a joint sponsor of the Safety IDEA program. FMCSA has been funding the Safety IDEA program since the program started in October 2001. In 2013, the Rail Safety IDEA program has become completely independent and separate from the FMCSA; therefore, all projects funded by this Grant must be railroad related projects. The Rail Safety IDEA programs explore innovative concepts that are initiated and proposed by researchers, inventors, universities, or companies, both within and outside the usual transportation research community.

## Questions people ask

### Is FR-RRD-21-001 still open?

No. It closed on May 14, 2021.

### Who can apply for FY21 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (Rail Safety IDEA)?

DOT - Federal Railroad Administration accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for FY21 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (Rail Safety IDEA)?

Closed May 14, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $400,000 each. About $400,000 in total for one award.

### Who has won Railroad Research and Development grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Short Line Safety Institute, University of Illinois, National Academy of Sciences. The program made 15 awards worth $22.4 million in that time.