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University Grants

This Program enhances FRA’s research and development program by developing cooperative research relationships with selected academic institutions. In doing so, FRA is establishing Strategic Partnership Initiatives, and supporting Transportation Education and Training. Each year, a small number of grants are awarded with a typical value in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 and a combined value of about one million dollars. Applicants are encouraged to consider sharing the cost of their proposed projects or identify in-kind contributions. Awards are made to universities that have expertise that complements FRA’s R&D program. 

Approach

Announcements are normally published in the Federal Register once every three years soliciting proposals from accredited academic institutions in identified areas of research. Applicants must have demonstrable expertise in rail transportation research, and have a minimum of five years of rail-related research experience. Each proposed project in each area of interest is evaluated on the following criteria:
  1. Overall scientific and/or technical merit;
  2. The degree to which it may improve railroad safety;
  3. The likelihood for near-term adoption of the research results;
  4. The extent to which the proposal fits into the FRA’s overall research program; and
  5. The reasonableness and realism of the proposed cost, and the availability of funds to include consideration of proposed cost-sharing (cash or in-kind contributions). 

Qualified applications are ranked in order of qualifications, probability for success, and the degree to which the proposed project fits into the FRA’s overall research program. The current areas of interest are, but not limited to:

  • Vehicle/track interaction modeling and simulation:
    The development of a comprehensive computer program for modeling and simulating railway vehicle/track systems with an emphasis on the dynamic performance of both vehicle and track and their interaction through the wheel/rail interface.
  • Smart transducers for railroad safety inspection and monitoring:
    Focuses on the development of software and hardware tools for the deployment of smart transducers and devices for monitoring the safety of track and rolling stock. The objective is to improve the quality and efficiency of track and rolling stock safety inspection.
  • Advanced techniques for detecting weak track spots:
    Research development of automated techniques for identifying spots along the track structure that suffer from rapid detioration in geometry and/or strength.
  • Automated trackbed subsurface evaluation:
    Study to improve the effectiveness of track maintenance in support of the ongoing predictive track degradation model development.
  • Reliability design and analysis:
    Addresses the reliability and safety performance aspects of tank cars and other types of railroad cars, and railroad operations and maintenance practices, focusing on the development of a methodology to assess the failure mode.
  • Epidemiology of post accident stress in locomotive engineers:
    This project will determine the descriptive epidemiology (incidence and prevalence) of post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) in locomotive engineers so that the magnitude of the problem can be scientifically established.