The Biden-Harris Administration, through the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), has announced nearly 1.5 billion USD in funding for 19 projects along the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
This investment was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, underscoring the administration’s commitment to modernising the nation’s busiest rail corridor.
The 1.5 billion USD investment, administered via the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (Fed-State NEC), will address ageing infrastructure, improve service reliability, and increase operational speeds.
This funding builds on over 16.4 billion USD allocated in 2023 to NEC projects, such as the Hudson River Tunnel Project, Susquehanna River Bridge Replacement, and New York Penn Station Access.
“The Biden-Harris Administration continues to make good on its promise to deliver the long-awaited, much-needed investments to modernise this critical route. With the nearly $1.5 billion in funding we’re announcing today, we’re upgrading our rail infrastructure to support our economy and make service safer, faster, and more reliable for hundreds of thousands of passengers who depend on this route.”
Key Projects Funded
Pennsylvania: Keystone Line Modernization ($397 million)
- Replacement of catenary systems on an 18-mile segment between Philadelphia and Paoli.
- Upgrades include new power substations and overhead systems, increasing operating speeds and reducing delays.
Washington, D.C.: Union Station Expansion ($24 million)
- Modernisation of Washington Union Station, including track and platform realignment, a new bus facility, and pedestrian improvements. Future enhancements are expected to cut boarding times by 50% and reduce idle times.
New Jersey: Newark Catenary Upgrades ($13.4 million)
- Replacement of 1930s-era catenary systems along 23 miles of rail between New Brunswick and Newark to reduce delays by 80%.
Connecticut: Hartford Station Relocation ($2.56 million)
- Planning for a new multimodal train station and realignment of tracks in Hartford to improve speeds and reduce delays on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield corridor.
These projects are part of a historic 66 billion USD nationwide rail investment. They are expected to create over 100,000 jobs and boost local economies while supporting supporting small businesses and driving regional economic activity.
In addition, they will advance decarbonisation and environmental sustainability goals by upgrading rail systems and reducing congestion.
