Federal Railroad Administration issues list of priority projects in Northeast Corridor

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a list of priority projects in the Northeast Corridor, a railroad line that spans from Boston to Washington, D.C. This list will advance a systematic approach for the improvement and development of the commuter and intercity passenger rail backbone of the region’s rail network. The Project Inventory creates a project pipeline to assist Amtrak, States and the public with long-term planning that will improve service. It will guide up to $24 billion in funding that FRA is investing in NEC intercity passenger rail service through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (Partnership Program).

The NEC is critical to the American economy. It is America’s busiest intercity passenger rail corridor, serving 800,000 passengers daily pre-pandemic and spanning an area that accounts for 20 percent of the national GDP. The first NEC Project Inventory includes a total of 68 projects divided into 15 Major Backlog Projects and 53 Capital Renewal, Stations and Improvement Projects. These projects will reverse a decades-long underinvestment in the country’s infrastructure by replacing and rehabilitating vital rail assets while also planning for major rail station upgrades and expansions.

By increasing the reliability, frequency and quality of passenger rail services, these investments will improve the rider experience and provide customers with even more flexible transportation options.

“Modernizing and expanding the NEC through a transparent and well-organized approach will mean faster trips, fewer disruptions, improved safety and an overall better experience for the hundreds of thousands of riders who depend on the corridor daily,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “The NEC Project Inventory will allow FRA, States, and stakeholders to fully capitalize on the transformative opportunities afforded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by clearly defining our rail development goals and targeting investments where they are most needed.”

“These projects will deliver the modern infrastructure needed to improve the reliability and performance of train travel throughout the Northeast and establish a pipeline of critical future improvements projects,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “We appreciate Administrator Bose’s and Sec. Buttigieg’s leadership in developing this inventory and look forward to working with our partners to pursue future USDOT grants, including those provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to advance the projects listed in the inventory.”