C&S Spending Report 2025

Compiled by Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor

In January, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued more than $1.1 billion in Railroad Crossing Elimination program grants to help fund projects in 41 states involving more than 1,000 grade crossings. It was the largest investment in grade crossing safety in the FRA’s history.

States continue to provide funding for crossing safety, too. For example, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in March approved a five-year safety improvement program that will provide more than $400 million for upgrades at 963 crossings in fiscal years 2026 to 2030.

The program will provide funds to Class Is, regionals and short lines to build or reconstruct grade separations and perform other crossing work, such as upgrades to lighting, gates and automatic warning devices.

The program is an essential tool for improving the state’s rail infrastructure and reducing the risk of crossing collisions, said ICC Commissioner Michael Carrigan in a press release.

Bolstering crossings is part of freight and passenger railroads’ communications and signals (C&S) agenda each year. Our eighth annual C&S Spending Report reveals quite a few crossing projects pegged for this year, as well as other key improvements and upgrades in the sector.

Below, 38 railroad entities share their C&S work slates and/or budget figures for 2025, divided into separate freight and passenger railroad sections.

CSX

2025 C&S budget: $121.8 million

2024 C&S budget: $111.2 million

Major C&S projects: Install 40 additional wayside detectors to optimize detector spacing and enhance remote trending; install microprocessor-based signal control system and eliminate 142 miles of pole line across the Midwest region; eliminate all remaining radio code by upgrading 27 control points with dual IP communication circuits; extend positive train control (PTC) footprint in 4 additional subdivisions; continue multiyear development on new train dispatch system; install precision GPS to enhance PTC reliability; and install and upgrade switch heater components at 500 locations throughout the Midwest and Northeast regions.

As part of New York City Transit’s Crosstown Line signal modernization project, workers installed six wayside radio units and 10,000 feet of new signal cable along the track.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

CN

2025 C&S budget: C$52 million

2024 C&S budget: C$56 million

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

Norfolk Southern Railway

2025 C&S budget: $48 million

2024 C&S budget: $49 million

Major C&S projects: Replace bridge electrical and control; advance 900 MHz transition to 220 MHz; upgrade Brosnan and Inman yards’ process control system (PCS); and enhance hot bearing detector network.

Conrail

2025 C&S budget: $10.3 million

2024 C&S budget: $9.1 million

Major C&S projects: Bungalows and shop wiring, $2.5 million; install 1 retarder; renew 14 grade crossings; and expand PTC footprint in Detroit.
Information from presentation at the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association’s (NRC) 2025 annual conference held in early January

Grupo Mexico Transportes

2025 C&S budget: $7.4 million

2024 C&S budget: $7.6 million

Note: Includes information for Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. (FXE), Ferrocarril del Sureste S.A. de C.V. (FSRR), Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) and Texas Pacifico Transportation Ltd. Dollar figures in mStable USD (MUSD) currency.

Major C&S projects: Advance signal program for FEC, $3.1 million; upgrade signal and switch machine technology for FXE, $1.5 million; address batteries and other devices in FXE network, $1.3 million; upgrade to LED technology devices in Centro Mexico and Guadalajara divisions for FXE, $900,000; and address batteries, signals and rail side devices substitution in FSRR network, $500,000. All work to be performed between January and December 2025.

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.

(More than 100 regionals and short lines in North America)

2025 C&S budget: Signals (3%), crossings (3%) and PTC (1%) of total $565 million capex*

2024 C&S budget: Not provided

Major C&S projects: Rehab more than 300 grade crossings and complete 6 additional PTC installations, $1.8 million. G&W operates I-ETMS, ACSES and E-ATC types of PTC systems and has equipped 157 locomotives with PTC across its network.* Also, install 35 new active warning devices and 18 new defect detectors.
*Information from presentation at the NRC’s 2025 annual conference

Watco

(45 regionals/short lines in the U.S. and Canada)

2025 C&S budget: $5.9 million (crossings work)

2024 C&S budget: Not provided

Major C&S project: Improve crossings for Louisiana Southern Railroad as part of CRISI grant-funded work.*
*Information from presentation at the NRC’s 2025 annual conference

CN’s annual C&S budget has dipped a bit, from C$56 million in 2024 to C$52 million in 2025.

CN

OmniTRAX Inc.

(25 regionals/short lines)

2025 C&S budget: Not provided

2024 C&S budget: Not provided

Major C&S projects: Complete various crossing and signal projects for the Illinois Railway, Georgia & Florida Railway and Winchester and Western Railroad Co.* Also, install hot bearing detectors at various locations and improve crossing signals/gates at various locations.
*Information from presentation at the NRC’s 2025 annual conference

Patriot Rail Co.

(31 regionals/short lines)

2025 C&S budget: Not provided

2024 C&S budget: Not provided

Major C&S projects: Upgrade 3 crossings for the Gettysburg and Northern Railroad, 3 crossings for the Napolean and Defiance Railroad and 2 crossings for the Georgia Southern Railroad as part of federal/state grant-funded work.
Information from presentation at the NRC’s 2025 annual conference

R. J. Corman Railroad Co.

(19 short lines)

2025 C&S budget: Not provided

2024 C&S budget: Not provided

Major C&S projects: Rebuild 5 signals in Lebanon, TN, and 2 signals in Louisville, KY; install 2 new signals in Raleigh, NC; and install 6 hot-box detectors in northern OH.

Alaska Railroad Corp.

2025 C&S budget: $1,451,928

2024 C&S budget: $1,137,480

Major C&S projects: Upgrade various defect detection equipment at multiple locations, $1,515,779; upgrade or add new signals to 3 crossings, $1,395,660; and replace 12v battery banks at all control points within CTC, $496,300.

New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Co.

2025 C&S budget: $500,000

2024 C&S budget: $500,000

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

Sierra Northern Railway

2025 C&S budget: $460,000

2024 C&S budget: $240,000

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

Pinsly Railroad Co. LLC

(6 regionals/short lines)

2025 C&S budget: $400,000

2024 C&S budget: $500,000

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co.

2025 C&S budget: $265,000

2024 C&S budget: $315,000

Major C&S projects: Complete signal system upgrade to replace antiquated equipment (Section 130 project with Minnesota DOT), $325,000, complete by 2025’s end.

Tacoma Rail

2025 C&S budget: $216,000

2024 C&S budget: $140,000

Major C&S projects: Lincoln Ave. crossings signalization project, $2.5 million, start in summer/fall and complete in winter 2026.

Palmetto Railways

2025 C&S budget: $127,300

2024 C&S budget: $122,300

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

RRVW has increased its C&S budget just a tad to $60,000. Last year, the budget was $59,000.

Red River Valley & Western Railroad Co.

Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad

2025 C&S budget: $85,000

2024 C&S budget: $82,000

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

Red River Valley & Western Railroad Co.

2025 C&S budget: $60,000

2024 C&S budget: $59,000

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

Minnesota Prairie Line

2025 C&S budget: $57,000

2024 C&S budget: $62,000

Major C&S projects: No major projects planned.

Louisville and Indiana Railroad

2025 C&S budget: Not provided

2024 C&S budget: not provided

Major C&S projects: Improve 8 crossings.

Pacific Harbor Line

2025 C&S budget: Not provided

2024 C&S budget: Not provided

Major C&S projects: Upgrade 2 crossings.

MTA New York City Transit

2025 C&S budget: $724.4 million

2024 C&S budget: $497.9 million

Major C&S projects: Not provided.

MTA Long Island Rail Road

2025 C&S budget: Part of 2025-2029 capital program (no annual C&S budget)

2024 C&S budget: Part of 2020-2024 capital program (no annual C&S budget)

Major C&S projects: Scope of C&S projects for 2025 was under development when survey was submitted in March.

Bay Area Rapid Transit

2025 C&S budget: $100 million to $200 million

2024 C&S budget: $200 million to $300 million

Major C&S projects: No new projects planned but multiple C&S project under construction commenced in prior years.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

2025 C&S budget: $74,141,700 (labor and non-labor capital budget)

2024 C&S budget: $47,610,750 (labor and non-labor capital budget)

Major C&S projects: Upgrade vital processor on B/D line, involves replacing current track modules and relay logic (vital and non-vital relays) with microprocessor-based train control equipment, $70,100,000 (life of project budget); and upgrade communication transmission system (CTS) on A, B and D lines, involves constructing a new backbone CTS fiber-optic cable network to replace the existing legacy 48-stand fiber cable network, will feature new single-mode, 288-strand fiber-optic cables, patch panel equipment, connectors, network switches and racks, $65,350,000 (life of project budget), start in fall.

MTA Metro-North Railroad

2025 C&S budget: $46,451,659

2024 C&S budget: $35,846,357

Major C&S projects: Signal system upgrade phase II from Harmon to Poughkeepsie, involves a new wayside signal system and grade crossing warning system to replace a vital relay-based signal system, features new signal block design using new cab signal codes, $274.3 million, began in Sept. 2024 and conclude in Jan. 2032; replace signal system on New Haven Line from Greenwich to a new interlocking to be constructed, $80.5 million, began in April 2016 and conclude in March 2026; relocate utilities as part of WALK moveable bridge program, $12.4 million, began in late 2021 and conclude in Dec. 2026; replace C&S system along New Haven Line in CT, $7.2 million, began in Jan. 2013 and conclude in Nov. 2025; and install CCTV cameras and digital video recorders at 34 crossings, $1.2 million, began in Jan. 2018 and conclude in Dec. 2025.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

2025 C&S budget: $40 million

2024 C&S budget: Not provided

Major C&S projects: Replace fiber-optic system between Whisman and Baypointe stations along Orange Line, $11 million; improve and upgrade Guadalupe signals between Children’s Discovery Museum and Santa Teresa, $10 million ($40 million for entire corridor); improve crossings at 11 locations with pedestrian gates, $7.6 million, complete by Aug.; install laser intrusion detection systems at Hamilton Tasman East aerial guideway and Diridon tunnel, $4 million, start in Sept.; replace crossing controllers at 17 locations with Alstom XP-4s, $2.7 million, start in fall/winter; and install eastbound loop detector at Tasman/Champion, $2 million, start in fall/winter.

Metra

2025 C&S budget: $39.2 million

2024 C&S budget: $66.2 million

Major C&S projects: eplace 124-year-old 16th Street tower on Rock Island Line; continue to upgrade infrastructure and install new control points on Metra Electric Line to accommodate South Shore Line’s 4th track expansion; continue to upgrade signals systems between Canal St. and A-2 interlocking in Chicago; SMART crossing technology upgrades/gates on Metra Electric South Chicago Branch and Milwaukee District West Line; continue replacing platform announcement systems and installing new electronic signage on platforms across system; and improve 43 crossings systemwide.
Some information from a press release

Metra crews performed upgrades at a crossing in New Lenox, Illinois.

Metra

Metrolink

2025 C&S budget: $28.8 million

2024 C&S budget: $23.8 million

Major C&S projects: Mostly rehab work, replacing aged and worn infrastructure.

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

2025 C&S budget: $20 million

2024 C&S budget: $20 million

Major C&S projects: Trunk line resignaling project, $6 million, began in April 2023, completion to be determined; install consolidated train dispatching system for Red Line, $4 million, began in April 2023 and conclude in Dec. 2025; and 5/5 switch return to service, $3 million, began in June 2023 and conclude in Aug. 2025.

Utah Transit Authority

2025 C&S budget: $18 million

2024 C&S budget: $9 million

Major C&S projects: Replace OCS wire; upgrade substations, switch heaters and switch machines; auto tensioner on OCS and Q-cutter projects; and upgrade TPSS.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

2025 C&S budget: $8 million

2024 C&S budget: $9.5 million

Major C&S projects: Continue to upgrade train control systems with state-of-the-art control and communication equipment (as well as total upgrade of Rail Control Center), $7 million, began in 2011 and conclude in 2027; and replace obsolete US&S track circuit modules with Alstom modules, $1 million.

North County Transit District

2025 C&S budget: $7,401,281

2024 C&S budget: $5,082,807

Major C&S projects: SPRINTER Corridor signal modernization to replace signaling system along Escondido subdivision (22 miles), includes installing PTC communications on new SPRINTER fiber, $79 million, start and finish to be determined since $61.4 million of cost is unfunded.

Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO)

2025 C&S budget: $7 million

2024 C&S budget: $7 million

Major C&S projects: Relocate center tower to Lindenwold Yard, $8 million; replace transformers at electrical substations Phase 3, $3.3 million; replace various substation equipment, $3 million; and replace electrical cables in subways, $1.5 million.

Valley Metro

2025 C&S budget: $5,663,000

2024 C&S budget: $6,477,000

Major C&S projects: An OCC radio upgrade project was pushed back into the current fiscal year.

Shown: Improvements underway at a pedestrian crosswalk near the VTA’s Ohlone/Chynoweth light-rail station in San Jose, California. This year, the authority plans to improve 11 crossings by adding pedestrian gates.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

2025 C&S budget: $2,750,000

2024 C&S budget: $1,400,000

Major C&S projects: Orange Line rehab project involves installing 3 new crossovers, converting 2 manual crossovers to powered interlockings, upgrading 3 interlockings and upgrading the signal system from relay base to microprocessors (work will set up line for bidirectional operation).

Staten Island Railway

2025 C&S budget: $250,000 (labor)

2024 C&S budget: $250,000 (labor)

Major C&S projects: Radio upgrade project, $20 million, began in 2023 and complete in late 2025.