FDOT Awarded FRA Grant to Install One-of-a-Kind Rail Safety Features at Crossings Statewide

Grant funding to help install safety improvements on over 900 commuter rail crossings statewide

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) was recently awarded a $356 million grant through the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Coupled with Florida’s $100 million investment, FDOT will use this total investment of $456 million to completely revolutionize passenger rail crossings throughout the state.

Florida has established the most robust rail safety standards in the country that go above and beyond national standards. With this funding, safety features and design elements will entirely revamp over 900 rail crossings throughout the state by deploying emerging and innovative technology to save lives. This one-of-a-kind approach enhances safety by reducing conflict points, adding more physical barriers, improving traffic flow, and reducing congestion, providing a safer and more efficient driving experience along rail corridors.

“Making highway - railroad crossings safer is one of my top priorities as FRA Administrator,” said FRA Administrator David Fink. “Florida DOT's initiative is a game-changing undertaking that will prevent hundreds of crashes and save lives. The Federal Railroad Administration looks forward to working with FDOT on this pioneering project.”

“This is truly a transformational opportunity for rail safety in Florida. FDOT’s bold and aggressive approach will improve safety and save lives for years to come,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “Thank you to FRA for supporting our vision with this funding and helping to accelerate these major improvements to rail corridors across the state.”

Some examples of these enhanced standards include:

Upgrade of pedestrian-activated warning systems at pedestrian rail crossings, including lights, gates, and audible warnings for pedestrians.
Refinement and enhancement of pavement markings included at crossings to ensure that only rail-related markings are used (including Dynamic Envelopes) as well as raised reflective markers and solid lane lines which will provide motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists with clear and consistent visual cues.
Installation of overhead-mounted signals at crossings to enhance motorists’ awareness of rail crossings.
Enhancement of lighting at crossings to heighten the visibility of rail crossings for pedestrians and motorists.
Installation of LED-enhanced “DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS” signage at high-speed rail crossings to reinforce safe driving behaviors for motorists.
Installation of “ANOTHER TRAIN COMING” warning signs at locations with at least two tracks to help prevent potential conflicts with pedestrians and vehicles with an unexpected additional train.
Installation of physical barriers, such as double gates, to further deter vehicles from going around rail crossing gates.

These upgrades build upon FDOT’s continued investment in rail safety in Florida. Since 2021, FDOT has championed the creation and standardization of Dynamic Envelopes and, in 2024, FDOT spearheaded the creation of the nation’s first Rail Safety Coalition. FDOT recently developed a statewide Rail Crossing Countermeasure Application to evaluate existing conditions, identify potential safety improvements, and include other critical data into a single decision-support platform to prioritize rail investments. Alongside the standards, these initiatives reflect FDOT’s strategic, data-driven, and community-focused vision for rail safety in Florida.

Work to transform these locations will be prioritized by those with the highest history of incidents. As Florida continues rolling out these initiatives, FDOT reminds everyone that rail safety is a shared responsibility. Remember to keep off the tracks and always obey warning signals on rail corridors.

Learn more about the grant here.

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