The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published a list of priority projects to advance the improvement and development of the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
The NEC is a commuter and intercity passenger rail network spanning from Boston to Washington, D.C. This Project Inventory will promote transparency on federal priorities for its envisioned future.
The project pipeline will assist Amtrak with long-term planning to improve passenger services. It will also guide up to 24 billion USD in funding that the FRA is investing in NEC intercity passenger rail services through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program.
A total of 68 projects are included in the first NEC Project Inventory, divided into 15 Major Backlog Projects and 53 Capital Renewal, Stations, and Improvement Projects.
The FRA states that these projects will reverse a decade of underinvestment in the country’s infrastructure by rehabilitating vital rail assets and allowing for major rail station upgrades and expansions.
By increasing the reliability, frequency, and quality of passenger rail services, these investments will help improve the passenger experience and allow Amtrak to offer more flexible services.
“Modernising and expanding the NEC through a transparent and well-organised 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.
“The NEC Project Inventory will allow FRA, States, and stakeholders to fully capitalise 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.”
Projects must be included in the NEC Project Inventory to be eligible for Partnership Program funding. FRA will publish the NEC Project Inventory at least once every two years to to include new projects in the inventory.
