Overview:  This program provides funding for targeted outreach campaigns to reduce the number of railroad-related suicides that involve railroad trespassing. FRA awards funds to projects that achieve the maximum benefits possible, thereby meeting, in part, several milestones in its National Strategy to Prevent Trespassing on Railroad Property Report to Congress. See the FY 2019-2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for more information. 

Legislative Authority:  

This program was authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, Public Law 116-6, Div. G, Title I and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Div. H, Title I, Public Law 116-94.    

Funding Available for Award:  $293,000, with

• maximum dollar thresholds of $100,000 per project
• four projects in three states were selected for awards

Recipients: FY19-20 Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program Recipients

Eligible Projects:

Projects eligible for funding will implement a proposed outreach campaign for reducing suicides that involve railroad trespassing. The outreach campaign may involve:

• training staff to identify individuals at risk and intervene, 
• raising awareness of services via signage or public awareness campaigns, or
• implementing other strategies likely to be effective. 

An outreach campaign may have applicability outside of the rail domain, but projects must be intended to directly reduce railroad suicide incidents. At least 1 mile of FRA-regulated railroad track must be within the boundaries of the planned outreach activities.

Neither cost sharing or matching is required for this grant program. However, funding may not be used for costs that are included in, or used to meet cost-sharing or matching requirements of, any other Federally financed award or program. 

Eligible Recipients:

Recipients for this grant must be:

• an organization in the United States that focuses on suicide prevention and/or mental health assistance that can implement an outreach campaign for reducing suicide involving railroad trespassing; or 
• a railroad carrier interested in starting or expanding efforts to prevent trespass suicide. 

Ideally, an organization without direct rail domain knowledge would coordinate with a particular railroad carrier, as shown through a letter of support. A similar letter of support from a suicide prevention and/or mental health assistance-focused organization would be ideal should a railroad carrier apply for funding.

Resources:

• FY 2019-2020 Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity Webinar presentation 

News:  

June 09, 2020 Press Release