The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced a pair of initiatives aimed at modernizing public transportation and advancing high-speed rail, including $22 million in funding for transit innovation projects and new Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations designed to reduce barriers to developing high-speed passenger rail in the United States.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will invest $22 million through two grant programs supporting projects that improve safety, accessibility, and the passenger experience across public transit systems.

The funding will support initiatives that:

• Enhance operator and passenger safety
• Purchase transit vehicles with family-friendly features
• Construct maintenance facilities
• Implement contactless fare payment systems
• Improve scheduling technology for riders with accessibility impairments

"Safe, reliable, accessible, and convenient transit is essential for families heading to work, school, a doctor’s appointment, or the store," said FTA Acting Deputy Administrator Matthew Cahill.

The funding is available through FTA's Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Program, which expands transportation access for people with disabilities, and the Bus Safety, Accessibility and Innovation (BSAI) Research Program, which supports the development of safer, more accessible bus designs.

Applications for the ICAM program are due September 9, while BSAI Research Program applications must be submitted by September 28.

FRA Updates Noise Standards for High-Speed Rail

Separately, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the FRA will modernize federal train noise emissions standards, a move the department said removes a longstanding regulatory hurdle for high-speed rail development.

Current federal standards primarily measure engine and mechanical noise, rather than the aerodynamic wind noise generated by trains traveling at speeds above 160 mph.

The updated framework establishes an alternative noise standard for trains operating between 160 and 220 mph and creates an approval pathway for systems exceeding 220 mph, including magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology. The rule also eliminates certain legacy equipment requirements that the department said are no longer necessary for modern trainsets.

According to USDOT, the regulatory changes are expected to save high-speed rail developers approximately $100 million over the next 30 years.

“We're making it attractive to businesses and investors to partner with USDOT and develop high-speed rail here in the U.S.,” Duffy said.

FRA Administrator David Fink said the updated standards better reflect how modern high-speed trains generate noise.

"One of the reasons we don't have true high-speed rail in the United States is because current rules disadvantage trains that generate most of their noise from sources other than their engines and rolling stock instead of approaching the issue holistically," Fink said. "Updating this rule will remove a major obstacle railroads currently face when trying to operate high-speed trains."

Traditional federal noise limits will remain in effect for trains operating at speeds up to 160 mph.

The announcements give a bit more insight into the current administration’s effort to modernize transportation infrastructure by pairing federal investment in transit technology with regulatory reforms intended to accelerate innovation across multiple modes of transportation.