Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RLD 15 002
Apply for FR RLD 15 002
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 RLD Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program The Downeaster Brunswick Layover Facility" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.314 Railroad Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 19, 2015 and posted on Aug 18, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 25, 2015 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,814,922.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,814,922.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is eligible to apply for this grant.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY15 RLD Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program opportunity for the Downeaster Brunswick Layover Facility was a discretionary federal grant offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the FRA expected to remain involved in oversight and coordination as the project moved forward. The purpose of the award was to fund construction of a train layover facility in Brunswick, Maine, specifically designed to support turnaround and servicing needs for Amtrak Downeaster trains that operate between Brunswick and Boston. By adding a dedicated location for layover and servicing, the project aimed to make it easier to run more trains, improve on-time performance and overall reliability, and reduce operating costs associated with inefficient staging or servicing arrangements.
This opportunity was tied to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program, a long-running federal program that targets projects expected to reduce traffic congestion and deliver measurable air quality benefits. In practical terms, a passenger rail improvement like the Brunswick layover facility is positioned as a way to attract additional riders, shift some trips from cars to rail, and reduce vehicle miles traveled, which can lower emissions and relieve roadway congestion along the corridor. The grant description explicitly connects the facility to increased service frequency and ridership, which are the typical mechanisms by which intercity passenger rail projects claim CMAQ benefits: better service tends to draw more passengers, and those mode shifts can translate into emissions reductions and congestion relief.
Funding for the opportunity was substantial and narrowly tailored. The estimated total funding available was $8,814,922, and the award ceiling matched that amount, indicating the program expected to make a single award up to the full available funding level. The expected number of awards was one, and the award floor was listed as $0, which is a standard listing that does not necessarily imply that small awards were anticipated, but rather that there was no minimum stated in the notice. The funding activity category was transportation, and the CFDA number (the assistance listing identifier used at the time) was 20.314, Railroad Development, which aligns with FRA-administered rail infrastructure investments.
Eligibility was extremely limited. Only the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) was eligible to apply, making this a targeted opportunity intended for the specific entity responsible for sponsoring and managing the Downeaster service. The listing also noted a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the recipient was expected to contribute non-federal funds or other allowable match sources as part of the overall project financing plan. While the notice does not specify the match percentage in the excerpt provided, the presence of a match requirement signals that the federal funds were not intended to cover the entire cost without recipient participation.
Key dates show this was a short-fuse, time-limited solicitation. The opportunity was posted on August 18, 2015, with a creation date of August 19, 2015. The original and current closing date were both August 25, 2015, with no explanation given for any change, implying there was no extension. The opportunity was archived on September 24, 2015, meaning it was no longer active for application after that point. For access or technical issues with the full announcement, applicants were directed to the GrantSolutions Help Desk via phone or email during standard weekday business hours, which is typical for federal grant application systems support.
Overall, the grant can be summarized as a one-time, FRA-administered CMAQ-funded investment aimed at building a Brunswick layover and servicing facility to strengthen Downeaster operations. The intended outcomes were operational (more efficient turnarounds, improved reliability, lower operating costs) and public-benefit oriented (higher ridership, reduced congestion, and improved air quality). The funding was capped at $8.814 million, required matching funds, and was available only to NNEPRA under a cooperative agreement framework.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY15 RLD CMAQ Program opportunity for the Downeaster Brunswick Layover Facility?
It was a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The funding supported construction of a train layover and servicing facility in Brunswick, Maine for Amtrak Downeaster operations between Brunswick and Boston.
Which federal agency offered and administered this grant?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What type of award instrument was used?
The grant was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the FRA expected to remain involved in oversight and coordination as the project progressed.
What was the purpose of the funding?
The award was intended to fund construction of a dedicated layover facility in Brunswick, Maine to support train turnaround and servicing needs for Amtrak Downeaster trains.
What is a layover facility in the context of passenger rail operations?
Based on the description provided, the layover facility was designed to provide a dedicated location for trains to stage, turn around, and receive servicing needed to support regular operations.
What operational benefits were expected from building the Brunswick layover facility?
The project aimed to make it easier to run more trains, improve on-time performance and overall reliability, and reduce operating costs associated with inefficient staging or servicing arrangements.
How does this project relate to the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program?
This opportunity was tied to the CMAQ Program, which targets projects expected to reduce traffic congestion and deliver measurable air quality benefits. The layover facility was positioned as a passenger rail improvement that could help attract riders, shift some trips from cars to rail, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and thereby lower emissions and relieve roadway congestion along the corridor.
What mechanisms were described for achieving CMAQ benefits?
The description explicitly connected the facility to increased service frequency and ridership. The typical mechanism described is that better rail service can draw more passengers, and those mode shifts can translate into emissions reductions and congestion relief.
How much funding was available under this opportunity?
The estimated total funding available was $8,814,922, and the award ceiling matched that amount.
Was the opportunity expected to make one award or multiple awards?
The expected number of awards was one, indicating it was designed as a single, narrowly tailored award.
What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was $8,814,922.
What was the award floor and what does it indicate?
The award floor was listed as $0. The notice described this as a standard listing that does not necessarily mean small awards were anticipated, but rather that no minimum award amount was stated.
What was the funding activity category?
The funding activity category was transportation.
What CFDA number (assistance listing identifier) applied to this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed was 20.314, Railroad Development.
Who was eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility was extremely limited. Only the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) was eligible to apply.
Why was eligibility limited to NNEPRA?
The opportunity was described as targeted for the specific entity responsible for sponsoring and managing the Amtrak Downeaster service.
Was there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The listing noted a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the recipient was expected to contribute non-federal funds or other allowable match sources as part of the project financing plan.
Did the provided information specify the match percentage?
No. While a match requirement was stated, the excerpt provided did not specify the required match percentage.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 18, 2015.
What was the creation date listed for the opportunity?
The creation date was August 19, 2015.
When did the solicitation close?
The original and current closing date were both August 25, 2015.
Was there an extension to the closing date?
No extension is indicated in the information provided; the original and current closing dates were the same.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on September 24, 2015, indicating it was no longer active for applications after that point.
What should an applicant do if they had trouble accessing the full announcement or experienced technical issues?
Applicants were directed to contact the GrantSolutions Help Desk by phone or email during standard weekday business hours for access or technical issues.
How can this grant be summarized in plain terms?
It was a one-time, FRA-administered CMAQ-funded investment to build a Brunswick layover and servicing facility intended to strengthen Downeaster operations, with expected benefits including improved efficiency and reliability, potential for increased ridership and service frequency, reduced congestion, and improved air quality.
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