BIL Grants Target NEC Maintenance Backlog

By Lenny Zaleski, Rail Passengers Communications Intern



On November 15, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced nearly 1.5 billion dollars in funding for 19 projects along the Northeast Corridor (NEC). These improvements, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will shorten trip-times and increase reliability along the entire corridor.

“If you travel regularly on the Northeast Corridor, it’s impossible to miss all the construction work currently being done by the federal government, Amtrak, and state partners to address 50 years of underinvestment in America’s most heavily traveled rail corridor – but we’re just getting started,” said Jim Mathews, Rail Passenger Association President & CEO. “This round of grant awards will ensure that the work not only continues next year, but accelerates. We all know practice makes perfect, and our Association is ready and willing to work with the FRA, Amtrak, and Congress to ensure that this critical program continues to put Americans to work building a world class rail system for American passengers.”

(Image credit Federal Railroad Administration)

So, what improvements are coming to the NEC due to this funding? Here are some of the highlights:

• $397.3 million for design and construction of a new and upgraded catenary power system on 18 miles of Amtrak’s Keystone line between the Zoo substation in Philadelphia and the Paoli substation in Paoli, Pa. Much of the existing catenary infrastructure dates to the 1910s.
• $172 million for a variety of infrastructure improvements in Connecticut, including replacement of 88 catenary structures; four new crossovers; and replacement of the Longbrook Avenue Roadway bridge on a three-mile segment of the New Haven line between Bridgeport and Stratford, Conn.
• $122.7 million for final design and construction at Baltimore Penn Station, including interior renovations and restoration of the existing headhouse building and construction of a new entrance and headhouse along Lanvale Street.
• $102 million for double tracking in three segments totaling 6.2 miles on the New Haven, Conn.-Springfield, Mass., line served by Amtrak and CTrail. The work will take place in Enfield, Conn.; between Windsor and Windsor Locks, Conn.; and between Hartford and West Hartford, Conn.
• $72.5 million for development activities preceding renovations to Penn Station in New York City. This will include environment review and other project development work.
• $58.8 million for near-term improvements at Washington Union Station, including final design of replacement of Amtrak Police Department and crew base facilities; design and construction of a new digital technology communications room, and relocation and replacement of an electrical substation.
• $2.6 million for planning related to construction of a new Hartford, Conn., station and double tracking of 2.1 miles of the New Haven-Springfield corridor in Hartford.

As mentioned previously, the NEC is the most heavily used corridor in the U.S., with millions of passengers depending on the Amtrak and regional commuter rails services. These upgrades will help passengers get where they are going faster, served by more spacious and efficient stations.

The FRA has chosen projects that will benefit passengers up and down the Eastern Seaboard, and we can’t wait to see how these much-needed upgrades help bring more trains to more places for more people.