Amtrak and Companions Obtain Federal Grants to Give a boost to and Extend Passenger Rail Throughout The united states – Amtrak Media

WASHINGTON – Amtrak and its companions were awarded greater than $2.1 billion to beef up current routes and advance plans to amplify Amtrak provider throughout the USA.
“Amtrak ridership is hovering and we’re advancing plans to additional strengthen and amplify our products and services throughout the USA with our quite a lot of companions, thank you to those grants,” stated Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “We’re desperate to deliver the good thing about Amtrak’s community and enjoy to beef up states and native communities as they paintings to deliver intercity passenger rail to new communities throughout The united states.”
More than one grants introduced nowadays will cross at once to Amtrak; others will beef up current and possible companions. This contains:

$108.5 million at once to Amtrak for station and repair upgrades;
$2 billion to our companions in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maine for infrastructure upgrades that can at once get advantages Amtrak shoppers and host railroads; and
$34.5 million to 39 states and localities for making plans and construction of 69 new and progressed intercity passenger rail corridors, which Amtrak is primed to beef up

Those grants have been awarded in the course of the Federal Railroad Management’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program for initiatives positioned around the Nationwide Community, in addition to the Hall Identity and Construction Program (Hall ID).
“President Biden’s Making an investment in The united states Schedule is investment transformative rail initiatives that can raise American citizens for many years to come back and supply them with handy, climate-friendly choices to congested roads and airports,” stated FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “These days’s investments in passenger rail national, made conceivable through the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, are some other step ahead as we amplify and modernize our nation’s rail community, offering extra American citizens the world-class passenger rail they want and deserve. National initiatives receiving federal beef up via FRA’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program, will lead to quicker journeys, extra reliability, and expanded provider around the nation.”
FED-STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
This program supplies investment for capital initiatives around the Nationwide Community that cut back the state of fine restore backlog, beef up efficiency, or amplify or determine new intercity passenger rail provider. Amtrak gained 3 grants:

Chicago Union Station (CUS) Tasks – (two grants totaling as much as $93.6 million)

Chicago is the hub of Amtrak’s Nationwide Community. Each day, dozens of Lengthy Distance and State Supported trains get started or finish their routes at CUS. Two separate grants will advance parts of the Chicago Hub Development Program (CHIP), Amtrak’s multi-phased mission to revitalize CUS and revolutionize Midwest passenger rail.
Those grants will assist beef up the client enjoy for Amtrak and Metra shoppers through investment renovation and growth of the station platforms, making improvements to passenger get admission to and capability, bringing the platforms into compliance with American citizens with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and making improvements to air flow programs and air high quality. This paintings additionally contains repurposing platforms designed for mail dealing with which have been unused since 2005, enabling their use for passengers and supporting long-term rail provider growth around the Midwest.

Malta, Mont. Hall Operational Enhancement Mission (as much as $14.9 million)

This mission will beef up Empire Builder provider through getting rid of crucial bottlenecks that purpose delays and operational conflicts for freight and passenger trains. The paintings comes to ultimate design and building actions for tune, bridge, sign and different rail infrastructure enhancements on BNSF tracks that Amtrak’s Lengthy Distance provider operates on within the Malta, Mont. space and on the Malta Amtrak Station.
Along with those 3 grants, more than one companions additionally gained investment via this program to improve tracks and bridges that Amtrak trains function on, which is able to assist to beef up reliability and cut back shuttle instances. Moreover, Amtrak congratulates Brightline West and the California Top Pace Rail Authority for his or her a success grant packages to construct excessive velocity rail initiatives that can amplify intercity rail choices and may interface with Amtrak’s community at some point.
CORRIDOR ID PROGRAM (every award as much as $500,000)
This complete intercity passenger rail making plans and construction program created through the Infrastructure Funding & Jobs Act is designed to assist information intercity passenger rail construction all through the USA and create a pipeline of intercity passenger rail initiatives in a position for implementation.
The FRA awarded grant investment to all 4 packages Amtrak submitted. Every other 65 packages submitted through different entities additionally gained investment. This investment may beef up construction of a scope, agenda, and price estimate for making ready, finishing, or documenting linked provider construction plans.
Amtrak-Led Grants

Texas Top-Pace Rail Hall

This proposed hall would attach Dallas and Houston, Texas, with a brand new, devoted and grade separated high-speed passenger rail provider. This would offer new provider on a brand new alignment, with station stops in Dallas, Brazos Valley and Houston.

Lengthy Island Northeast Regional Extension

This proposed hall would lengthen 3 current day by day Northeast Regional spherical journeys between Washington, DC and New York Town east to Ronkonkoma, NY, with stops at Jamaica (Queens, NY) and Hicksville, NY. This might entail tune, station and infrastructure upgrades to deal with those trains and higher combine Amtrak provider with Lengthy Island Rail Highway commuter provider.

This proposed hall would building up Cardinal provider to function day by day, as opposed to 3 days every week these days. This direction operates between New York Town and Chicago by the use of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

Day by day Sundown Restricted Carrier

This proposed hall would building up Sundown Restricted provider to function day by day, as opposed to 3 days every week these days. This direction operates between Los Angeles and New Orleans by the use of Houston, San Antonio and El Paso, Texas; Tucson, Ariz.; and different communities.
Different FRA Recognized Corridors
A number of of the 65 corridors submitted through different entities and decided on through FRA will learn about enhancements that would get advantages current State Supported, Lengthy Distance and Northeast Regional products and services operated through Amtrak.
As The united states’s Railroad, Amtrak is uniquely situated to beef up the proposed growth of intercity passenger rail around the many corridors known through the FRA. This contains greater than 52 years of enjoy connecting communities throughout The united states, in addition to robust groups devoted to Community Making plans, Capital Supply and Carrier Supply & Operations with staff positioned throughout the USA.
Previous this yr, the FRA additionally awarded Amtrak just about $10 billion for 12 initiatives of nationwide importance throughout The united states’s busiest rail hall, and some other just about $200 million in the course of the CRISI grant program.
Reactions:
Senate Majority Chief Charles Schumer (D-NY)
“The Infrastructure Funding & Jobs Act I led via Congress is laying the tracks for the way forward for transit. This federal investment will spice up intercity rail through growing a plan to probably lengthen Amtrak roundtrip educate provider between Washington D.C. and New York Town to Lengthy Island Rail Highway stations in Jamaica, Hicksville and Ronkonkoma. Monitor, station, and infrastructure upgrades would higher combine Amtrak provider with the LIRR and provides Lengthy Islanders larger transportation choices all through the area and is worthy of significant attention for rail growth.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
“Making an investment in modernizing and increasing Amtrak provider guarantees that passengers can revel in a extra dependable and more secure trip. Extending Northeast Regional provider to Lengthy Island and lengthening Cardinal provider will amplify provider and get advantages numerous Amtrak shoppers touring out and in of New York. I’m proud to have helped safe investment for those construction initiatives, and I can proceed to beef up upgrades to Amtrak provider in New York.”
Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner (D-VA)
“For years, we’ve been championing the growth of rail to each and every nook of the Commonwealth as it’s a slam dunk for native economies, cuts site visitors, and protects the surroundings. We’re overjoyed the bipartisan infrastructure legislation is taking a large step against increasing provider throughout all of the Commonwealth so communities alongside the I-95 hall and past will also be related through extra handy, constant passenger rail.”
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
“For too lengthy, Phoenix has been the most important town within the nation no longer served through Amtrak. However due to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, we’re making investments against connecting Phoenix and Tucson, making Amtrak’s national community available to extra American citizens.”
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)
“I applaud Amtrak for his or her endured efforts to revive day by day provider at the Cardinal line that travels in the course of the Mountain State. This can be a nice funding in additional connecting West Virginia communities, bringing extra guests to our nice state and growing new financial alternatives. I’m dedicated to seeing day by day rail provider in Charleston, Huntington, White Sulphur Springs, Hinton, and the various communities alongside the Cardinal line. I can proceed running to peer that West Virginia will get the necessary rail provider it wishes and merits.”
Senator Krysten Sinema (I-AZ)
“Once I wrote and negotiated the bipartisan infrastructure legislation in 2021, those have been the forms of an important, transformative initiatives I had in thoughts for Arizona. These days’s funding is crucial step ahead to raised attach our communities and amplify financial alternatives – and we couldn’t be extra proud to have made it a fact.”
Senator Jon Tester (D-MT)
“As any person who’s spent his whole existence in north central Montana, I will let you know firsthand simply how crucial the Empire Builder is to holding communities related and serving to Montana small companies thrive. For years other folks were telling me that we want an improve to our rail infrastructure round Malta to beef up passenger and freight products and services, and with the assistance of my bipartisan infrastructure legislation, we’ll in the end be capable of ship. Those price range will assist make certain clean and dependable provider alongside the Empire Builder, and I’m proud to have labored around the aisle to make it occur.”
Consultant Pete Aguilar (D-CA-33)
“I’m overjoyed to peer this new funding within the Inland Empire as we proceed to paintings to scale back our dependence on fossil fuels and develop the native financial system. This new rail gadget will assist relieve site visitors congestion for other folks commuting to paintings, assist small companies through boosting our tourism business and support our financial system general. We’d like extra initiatives like this in our neighborhood and I’ll proceed to suggest for extra infrastructure investment in Congress.”
Consultant Colin Allred (D-TX-32)
“Bringing house the assets and investments we wish to develop our financial system and create jobs will at all times be a concern for me in Congress. Additional connecting Dallas and Houston and our economies will create numerous alternatives and make sure that Texas continues to guide the realm. As a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I’ve labored to beef up Texas Central and their possible partnership with Amtrak, and am so satisfied to have helped safe this investment.”
Consultant Don Beyer (D-VA-08)
“The Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant for Virginia is an ancient funding that can permit for the development of the Lengthy Bridge mission between DC and Arlington, easing probably the most greatest bottlenecks in our passenger rail south of D.C., and can very much beef up the potency of our passenger rail in Virginia.  I used to be overjoyed to peer more than one hall identity awards granted in Virginia as neatly, which is able to bolster our efforts to modernize and advance passenger rail all through the Commonwealth. I’m happy with our onerous paintings in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to make those grants conceivable, and I’m very satisfied to peer those investments that can result in nice financial alternative and connectedness throughout Virginia.”
Consultant André Carson (D-IN-07)
“I’ve lengthy advocated for higher intercity passenger rail within the Midwest via my paintings within the Area Transportation and Infrastructure Rail Subcommittee. These days’s announcement is a enormous step ahead to make Indianapolis better-connected than ever sooner than. Day by day provider for the Cardinal direction will make a good distinction for the entire communities served, particularly Indianapolis, the Crossroads of The united states – and it’s a transformation I’ve known as for quite a few years. Those rail enhancements, will increase in provider frequency, and a brand new proposed Hall will supply clean pathways for shuttle from Chicago to Indianapolis to Louisville. Amtrak opens the door for brand new other folks to consult with, paintings, and revel in all Indianapolis has to supply. The Midwest’s long run isn’t entire and not using a robust passenger rail gadget, and I’ll stay running to offer robust and constant investment to Amtrak.”
Consultant Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20)
“I’m satisfied to peer the Division of Transportation prioritizing routes in Texas as a part of the most important federal funding in passenger rail since Amtrak’s introduction. This funding gets Texans the place they wish to cross whilst growing good-paying jobs and rising our financial system. Making an investment and increasing in our transportation infrastructure does nice for our whole country, and I’m satisfied we’re transferring against increasing products and services.”
Consultant Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA-11)
“Those are ancient investments in our long run that can cut back rail and highway congestion, beef up commutes, and building up our regional transportation capability. I’m proud to have helped safe this crucial investment and I will’t wait to peer those federal greenbacks at paintings.”
Consultant Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30)
“Texas is rising, and Dallas is rising even quicker. Extra new Texans manner extra public transportation wishes, together with and particularly high-speed rail. I’m excited we’re bringing $500,000 house to Texas for construction of a Texas Top-Pace Rail Hall, which might decrease transportation prices for commuters, ease site visitors congestion on our roads, reduce down on carbon air pollution, and spice up financial integration between Dallas and Houston – two of the most important metro spaces within the nation. The way forward for Texas is coming at HIGH-SPEED!”
Consultant Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09)
“This funding within the construction of recent rail provider into Southwest Virginia through the Division of Transportation is welcomed information, as it’s going to no longer best supply extra transportation choices for the ones residing within the area, but in addition for the ones visiting our nice Commonwealth.”
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-07)
“Returning Amtrak passenger provider to Arizona is important for our state’s financial system, sustainability and regional connectivity. This $500,000 grant places us on course to offer Arizonans a competent and extra climate-friendly mode of shuttle. I’m proud to have voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation which is still a supply of fine paying jobs and a motive force of monetary expansion for all of Arizona.”
Consultant Robin Kelly (D-IL-02)
“I’m overjoyed to welcome those ancient investments in passenger rail to Illinois. By means of prioritizing investments in cutting-edge transportation infrastructure, the Biden-Harris management is hanging American households first. Our financial system, our weather, and our whole communities will thrive with larger get admission to to passenger rail.”
Consultant Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07)
“This primary funding is evidence that the bipartisan infrastructure legislation is continuous to ship for Virginia’s communities. In Congress, I’ve had the consideration of representing Virginians up and down the I-95 hall. And for years, they’ve been calling for more potent investments in dependable passenger rail. Due to the bipartisan infrastructure legislation — which I helped negotiate and voted to go, the Lengthy Bridge mission will make certain that Virginians can depend on rail to get the place they’re going after they’re travelling on Amtrak or VRE. This investment will even permit for the development of a 3rd tune alongside sections of the hall in Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania — making a large distinction for the Virginians I constitute. On behalf of the loads of hundreds of Virginians I serve, I look ahead to seeing those primary and ancient enhancements in motion.”
Consultant Norma Torres (D-CA-35)
“Transportation is very important to the improvement of the Inland Empire, connecting our households to nice jobs, inexpensive housing, and to one another. The Brightline West Top-Pace Hall guarantees to revolutionize our neighborhood’s transportation infrastructure, connecting the Inland Empire at once to Las Vegas by the use of an approximate 2-hour high-speed rail shuttle and selling additional connectivity to Los Angeles by the use of Amtrak with the brand new intermodal Cucamonga station. I used to be proud to beef up this mission on the federal degree which is able to generate important tourism and financial expansion for the area. By means of finishing the country’s first high-speed rail mission at the West Coast, the Inland Empire will cleared the path in selling extra public funding in high-speed rail all through California and the country.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego
“In Phoenix, connectivity is the whole lot – from investments in our gentle rail gadget to increasing bus routes, we all know that transit unleashes alternatives that assist households and companies prosper. These days’s information is massive as it manner we’re some other step nearer to re-establishing a lot wanted rail provider between Arizona’s two greatest towns. Teach provider between Phoenix and Tucson will spur financial process, assist cut back congestion at the busy I-10, and in the end kickstart personal and public investments alongside the rail hall. I’m thankful to our Congressional delegation for his or her paintings to safe the grant and look ahead to further tendencies as we proceed pushing for this crucial rail direction.”
Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) Government Director Patricia Quinn
“We’re thankful for this federal award which, in partnership with CSX Transportation, will fund track-related upgrades to take care of reliability and set the degree for long run enhancements to the Amtrak Downeaster provider.”
Missouri Division of Transportation Director Patrick McKenna
“The investment awarded through the FRA’s Hall Identity and Construction Program performs an integral function within the growth and long run good fortune of Amtrak passenger rail strains in Missouri. Those grants will let us take step one in engaging in the research essential for the improvement of a variety plan of the proposed corridors.”
Mid-Ohio Regional Making plans Fee Government (MORPC) Director William Murdock
“These days marks a crucial milestone to revive passenger rail to the Columbus Area for the primary time since 1979. Each routes by the use of Central Ohio have a robust industry case that affects communities and companies throughout Ohio’s primary towns, rural and Appalachian Ohio, and the hall from Pittsburgh to Fortress Wayne and Chicago. New passenger rail provider manner jobs, get admission to for our households and team of workers, or even a laugh for sports activities enthusiasts and vacationers. Along with our companions, we’re excited to take this necessary subsequent step.”
MTA Building & Construction President Jamie Torres-Springer
“The MTA is operating with Amtrak in shut partnership to take a look at all conceivable enhancements to regional mobility, whilst making sure there will probably be no affect on LIRR operations.”
Wisconsin Division of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson
“The lengthy differ WisDOT rail plan used to be the results of paying attention to the general public, and neighborhood leaders and lots of others have requested for passenger trains to achieve extra of our communities. We will be able to paintings intently with all our stakeholders to discover this chance and we can additionally proceed to take a look at different proposed enhancements which might be aligned with our long-range plans.”
Transportation Trades Division. AFL-CIO President Greg Regan
“Because the country’s greatest transportation hard work federation and a consultant of 13 affiliated rail unions, we applaud the Biden Management for its endured investments in passenger rail programs around the nation. This $8.2 billion investment for rail upgrades, expansions, and initiatives will probably be transformative for communities and passengers, all whilst using highly-skilled union employees.”
Rail Passengers Affiliation President Jim Mathews
“Passengers from throughout The united states will probably be overjoyed to learn concerning the investment agreements introduced nowadays through the Biden-Harris Management. Those grants will beef up the creation of day by day Amtrak provider in areas that these days must make do with trains that best come via their the city 3 times every week; they’ll assist amplify widespread Amtrak products and services in abruptly rising portions of the Southeast; and so they’ll plant the seeds for rankings of recent routes around the country. A a success federal passenger rail program should do greater than beef up the commutes in coastal towns—making an investment in an progressed and expanded Amtrak is the surest approach to make sure that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation improves the transportation community for all American citizens.”

Author: OpenAI