FR-RRD-23-003: FY23 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (Rail Safety IDEA)
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of DOT - Federal Railroad Administration notices from 2023.
DOT - Federal Railroad Administration offered grants of up to $400,000 to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on July 14, 2023.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed June 28, 2023. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$400,000
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR-RRD-26-001 | July 14, 2026 | Closed July 20, 2026 | Closed |
| FR-RRD-25-002 | August 5, 2025 | Closed August 22, 2025 | Closed |
| FR-RRD-24-002 | September 6, 2024 | Closed September 12, 2024 | Closed |
| FR-RRD-22-001 | July 6, 2022 | Closed July 15, 2022 | Closed |
| FR-RRD-21-001 | May 3, 2021 | Closed May 14, 2021 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | June 28, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | July 14, 2023 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | August 13, 2023 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
The National Academy of Sciences is the only entity eligible to apply.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Railroad Research and Development awards averaged $1.5 million; this notice allows up to $400,000 per award.
- Most of the program's money (75% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
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.
Who has won Railroad Research and Development grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Railroad Research and Development (20.313) awarded $22.4 million across 15 grant awards, an average of $1.5 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Line Safety Institute | District of Columbia | 7 | $14.8 million |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 1 | $5.0 million |
| National Academy of Sciences | District of Columbia | 5 | $2.1 million |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland | 1 | $400,000 |
| Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska | Nebraska | 1 | $176,552 |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is FR-RRD-23-003 still open?
No. It closed on July 14, 2023.
Who can apply for FY23 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 FY23 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (Rail Safety IDEA)?
Closed July 14, 2023. 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.
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.