FDOT awarded $356 million FRA grant to bring one-of-a-kind rail safety upgrades to crossings across Florida

Tallahassee, Florida – The Florida Department of Transportation has received a $356 million federal grant that will help fund a major effort to improve safety at railroad crossings across the state.

The funding comes through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Florida will add another $100 million to the federal award, creating a total investment of $456 million for rail crossing improvements.

FDOT plans to use the money to upgrade more than 900 railroad crossings throughout Florida. The effort will introduce new safety features and technology designed to reduce crashes, improve traffic movement and create more physical separation between trains, vehicles and pedestrians.

Florida officials say the project will build on rail safety standards that already go beyond national requirements. Rather than relying on a single improvement, the plan combines several measures at crossings in an effort to reduce the number of potential conflict points.

“Making highway – railroad crossings safer is one of my top priorities at 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.”

FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E., described the federal grant and state contribution as an opportunity to make broad changes to rail safety infrastructure throughout Florida.

“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.”

Among the planned upgrades are improvements to pedestrian warning systems at railroad crossings. These systems can include lights, gates and audible warnings designed to alert people walking near or across rail lines.

FDOT also plans to improve pavement markings at crossings. The updated markings will focus on rail-related information, including Dynamic Envelopes, while raised reflective markers and solid lane lines will provide clearer visual guidance to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

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Another planned change involves overhead-mounted signals. The signals are intended to make railroad crossings more noticeable to drivers and improve awareness as motorists approach the tracks.

Lighting will also be upgraded at selected crossings. Better lighting is expected to make crossing areas easier to see for both drivers and pedestrians, particularly when visibility is limited.

At high-speed rail crossings, FDOT plans to install LED-enhanced “DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS” signs. The signs are designed to reinforce the message that motorists should not stop their vehicles on railroad tracks.

Some crossings with two or more tracks will receive “ANOTHER TRAIN COMING” warning signs. The additional warnings are intended to alert pedestrians and drivers that another train could approach after one train has already passed.

Physical barriers will also be part of the project. In some locations, FDOT plans to install measures such as double gates to make it more difficult for vehicles to drive around lowered railroad crossing gates.

The upgrades are part of a broader rail safety effort that FDOT has been developing for several years. Since 2021, the department has supported the creation and standardization of Dynamic Envelopes, which help identify areas around tracks where trains may extend beyond the immediate rail line.

In 2024, FDOT also led the creation of the nation’s first Rail Safety Coalition. The department has more recently developed a statewide Rail Crossing Countermeasure Application, a tool intended to bring together information about existing crossing conditions and potential safety improvements.

The application allows FDOT to consider critical data when deciding where rail safety investments should be made. Officials say the approach is intended to make the process more strategic and data-driven while also considering the needs of communities.

Not every crossing will necessarily be addressed at the same time. FDOT said work will be prioritized at locations with the highest history of incidents. That approach is intended to direct resources toward crossings where safety improvements may have the greatest effect.

The statewide project represents a substantial investment in the infrastructure where roads and rail lines meet. These locations can bring together motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and trains in the same space, making warning systems, signs, barriers and clear markings important parts of rail safety.

As the improvements move forward, FDOT is also reminding the public that infrastructure alone cannot eliminate every danger at railroad crossings. Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists must continue to follow warning signals and remain clear of active tracks.

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The department is urging everyone to treat rail safety as a shared responsibility, stay off railroad tracks and obey crossing signals whenever traveling along Florida’s rail corridors.

With $456 million now committed through the federal grant and Florida’s contribution, FDOT is preparing to carry out one of the state’s largest coordinated efforts to modernize railroad crossing safety and introduce new protective measures at hundreds of locations statewide.