The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced earlier this week on November 6th that it has awarded $16.4 billion for 25 passenger rail projects along the Northeast Corridor (NEC)–a railroad line that runs between Boston and Washington, D.C.
The announcement comes as part of President Biden’s vision for world-class passenger rail and is the latest in a series of major rail investments made under the Biden-Harris Administration.
The NEC is one of the highest volume passenger rail corridors in the world and the busiest in the U.S., seeing over 800,000 riders each day. It supports billions of dollars in annual economic activity, and accounts for 24 million jobs. However, it hasn’t seen major federal investment in generations.
The passenger rail projects will upgrade twelve major tunnels and bridges that are over 100 years old, along with tracks, power systems, signals, stations, and more, allowing for increased speeds, reduced travel time, and a more reliable experience for riders.
Moreover, these projects will ensure future progress for an improved national rail network.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated:
Under President Biden, we are finally delivering the generational investments in passenger rail that Americans have wanted for years, including modernizing the busiest rail corridor in the country. These investments will make our busiest passenger railroad safer, faster, and more reliable, which means fewer delays and shorter commutes for the 800,000 passengers who rely on the Northeast Corridor every day.
Among some of the other major Fed-State NEC projects moving forward include:
New York – East River Tunnel Rehabilitation
- Final design and construction of the East River Tunnels in New York City. The tunnels are used by Amtrak’s NEC services, Long Island Rail Road, and New Jersey Transit for a total of more than 400 daily trains.
New Jersey/New York – Gateway Program: Hudson Tunnel Project Systems and Fit Out
- Final design and construction of the Hudson River Tunnel project and rehabilitation of the existing 113-year-old North River tunnels.
The full list of Fed-State NEC projects for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 can be seen here.
FRA Administrator Amit Bose stated:
The President’s investments in rail are the boldest ever, and they’re going to bring immediate benefits to communities and the economy while laying the foundation for generations of growth. On the heels of 70 nationwide rail projects announced last month…today’s investment will help ensure essential rail corridors like the Northeast Corridor are modern, safe, and convenient, giving Americans access to world-class passenger service.
Looks like pretty soon when we visit our friends over in Boston and D.C. we’ll be riding in style!!!