The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded more than half a million dollars in Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Grants to law enforcement agencies to support life-saving trespass abatement in multiple states.

“This money will help local law enforcement agencies deter people from taking unnecessary risks around railroad tracks, while continuing the focus on those specific populations that are known to subject themselves to such risks around railroad tracks,” FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said.

FRA is announcing funds, totaling $528,028, to 11 projects in six states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, and New Jersey. The agency received a total of 23 eligible applications for the grant program.

In awarding the grants, FRA focused on trespass hot spots — geographic areas where law enforcement agencies have witnessed high instances of the behavior. Between 2014 and 2018, FRA research confirmed 4,721 trespass incidents resulting in 2,412 deaths in the U.S.

The grant program exemplifies priorities outlined in FRA’s National Strategy to Prevent Trespassing on Railroad Property, which the agency issued in 2018. These include funding and developing partnerships among stakeholders well-positioned to assist their communities.

In making these grant selections, FRA afforded preference to 10 states with the highest numbers of trespass-related incidents. FRA then considered geographic diversity and applicants using innovative approaches to saving lives.

Law enforcement agency grantees will report their programmatic outcomes, ensuring agencies meet project goals through the activities negotiated in their agreements with FRA. These agencies will also provide other activity details, including the rationale for the selected enforcement activities.

FRA will provide law enforcement grants to cover officer wages for the projects below. Read more about the projects here.