Leo PortalThe Federal Railroad Administration has announced over $2 billion in funding for projects along the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure, extending from Washington, D.C., to Boston, and including branch lines to Harrisburg, Springfield, and Manhattan’s West Side. Notable projects eligible for funding include the Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Baltimore and the Hudson River Tunnel project in New York and New Jersey. This funding opportunity targets capital renewal, improvement, and station projects, aligned with the Northeast Corridor Project Inventory.
In response to increased ridership, the Northeast Corridor Commission proposed a $176 billion, 15-year plan for infrastructure rebuilding. Amtrak’s recent performance report indicates a 25% rise in passengers on the Northeast Corridor from October 2023 to March 2024. The corridor accommodates eight commuter railroads, and a fully funded plan aims to significantly expand service between major cities.
The 2021 infrastructure law’s $66 billion investment in rail, including projects like the Portal North Bridge replacement in Kearny, New Jersey, underscores the commitment to enhancing rail infrastructure. NJ Transit and Amtrak report significant progress on the Portal North Bridge, highlighting successful completion within budget and on schedule.
Northeast Corridor Infrastructure: Amtrak’s Expansion Plans and Transportation Funding Impact
In November, the Northeast Corridor Commission – a coalition of Amtrak, commuter rail agencies, states and the U.S. Department of Transportation, laid out a 15- year, $176 billion plan to rebuild the corridor’s infrastructure and prepare for increased ridership and more trains.
From the Oct. 1, 2023 beginning of the fiscal year through March 2024, Amtrak carried nearly 7 million passengers on the Northeast Corridor, a 25% jump year over year, according to the railroad’s most recent performance report. The corridor even hosts eight commuter railroads. According to the NEC Commission, a fully funded plan would nearly double Amtrak service between New York City and Washington, D.C., and 50 % increase service between New York City and Boston. It would also allow a 60% increase in commuter trains.
Infrastructure Law Impact: Portal North Bridge Replacement Marks Progress in Northeast Corridor Modernization
The 2021 infrastructure law’s traditional $66 billion investment in rail benefits Amtrak. “The President’s investments in rail will be felt by generations to come, beginning with quick benefits to communities and continuing to ensure essential rail corridors like the Northeast Corridor are present, safe, and practical, giving Americans access to world- class passenger service”, FRA Administrator Amit Bose said in a statement.
A new, fixed-span railroad bridge in Kearny, New Jersey will replace a 114-year-old swing bridge that generally opens to obstruct ships from passing, interrupting train traffic, one of the major projects that the infrastructure law funding is supporting.
The new Portal North Bridge, according to New Jersey Transit and Amtrak, has been completed for 50%, according to the announcement made on Monday. The $1.6 billion project spans nearly 2.5 miles. More than two years after publicly opening its doors in August 2022, NJ TRANSIT is pleased to be able to demonstrate that mega-projects in the Northeast can be completed on-time and on budget, according to NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett in a statement.
Resume: Federal Railroad Administration Allocates $2 Billion for Northeast Corridor Infrastructure Projects
- The Federal Railroad Administration said Tuesday that it is making more than $2 billion available for projects located along the Northeast Corridor from Washington, D. C., to Boston, plus along branch lines to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, Massachusetts, and along Manhattan’s West Side connecting to Penn Station and the Metro North Hudson Line.
- The funds could be used to fund significant projects, including the Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Baltimore and the Hudson River Tunnel project in New York and New Jersey.
- Capital renewal, improvement, big backlog, and station projects as well as planning studies that meet the requirements of the Northeast Corridor Project Inventory, which identifies and prioritizes projects along the corridor, can apply for this round of funding, according to the Notice of Funding Opportunity published today in the Federal Register.
