Funding under this program was made available by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, and the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2019, 2018, and 2017.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced more than $22 million in grant funding to three projects that collectively span eight states. Funding is provided through FRA’s Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grants Program to initiate, restore, or enhance intercity passenger rail service around the country. All three grants will be awarded to projects located in Opportunity Zones.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act authorized the Fiscal Years 2018-2020 R&E Grants Program, which provides operating assistance to initiate, restore, or enhance intercity passenger rail transportation through eligible projects that may include adding frequencies to current services, extending current services to new markets or station stops, offering new on-board services, initiating new service, or restoring a previously operated service.
Ad Loading...
Funding under this program was made available by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, and the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2019, 2018, and 2017.
“This funding will make a significant contribution to passenger rail-related operating assistance projects in our communities and ultimately make a big difference in people’s lives,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory.
The Fiscal Year 2018 – 2020 Restoration and Enhancement Grants Program awards are as follows:
Connecticut Department of Transportation
CTrail- Hartford Line Rail Enhancement Project $4,395,616
Ad Loading...
New Haven, Conn., to Springfield, Mass.
The project provides two additional weekday trains between New Haven, Connecticut, and Springfield, Mass., on the CTrail service, which began operations in June 2018. It also includes adding a customer service representative in Hartford Union Station to enhance and ease passengers’ experiences with ticket vending machines and access to and from the platform. These additional frequencies to a well-served existing corridor will provide an early northbound departure from New Haven (7:35 a.m.) and a mid-morning departure from Springfield (9:55 a.m.) and allow for more connections with Metro-North and Amtrak trains. Currently there is a one hour and 44-minute gap between the morning trains departing from Springfield and a one hour and 40-minute gap between morning New Haven departures. CTrail, which is operated by TransitAmerica Services, currently runs eight weekday trains between New Haven and Hartford with three trains continuing to Springfield (Amtrak operates an additional weekday train through this corridor).
Southern Rail Commission
Restoring Intercity Passenger Rail Service along America’s Gulf Coast $5,450,000
New Orleans to Mobile, Ala.
Ad Loading...
The project restores intercity passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast with state-supported Amtrak service from New Orleans to Mobile. It will serve regions that are underserved and the project is expected to foster economic development, enhance connectivity, provide other non-transportation benefits to the Gulf Coast region, and fill a critical geographic gap in Amtrak’s National Network. The Gulf Coast region was previously served by Amtrak’s tri-weekly Sunset Limited long-distance service. Amtrak suspended service between New Orleans and Orlando, Fla., in August 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina, which caused extensive damage to the rail infrastructure over which the service operated. The two daily round trips will make six station stops.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Service Project $12,569,200
Chicago to Saint Paul, Minn.
The project adds a second daily roundtrip passenger train between Union Depot in Saint Paul, Minn. and Union Station in Chicago. These endpoints are currently served along Amtrak’s Empire Builder long distance service. This additional train will provide travelers with more reliable service at convenient times between Saint Paul and Chicago, as poor on-time performance from the eastbound Empire Builder currently results in unreliable daily passenger service from Saint Paul. The proposed service will make 12 station stops. The project supplements the existing Empire Builder and Hiawatha routes with passenger rail service approximately four to six hours apart from the existing Empire Builder schedule and increases intercity transportation options and connectivity for rural communities between St. Paul and Milwaukee.
The announcement highlights the long-standing partnership between the Class I railroad and the commuter rail system, dating back to Metra's creation in 1983.
Crews completed a significant portion of the testing required before commissioning the new, digital signaling system, which will bring important upgrades that strengthen Red Line service reliability for riders and provide Red Line Operations the ability to route trains more quickly, turn trains around faster, and recover from unplanned disruptions more efficiently, said MBTA officials.
In addition to new projects, progress continues on a multiyear effort to upgrade track, electrical, and signal systems on the Metra Electric Line to accommodate the expansion of service on the South Shore Line.
The Maryland Transit Administration is advancing the nearly $1.4 billion Light Rail Modernization Program, which modernizes the Baltimore Central Light Rail Line from Hunt Valley to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport with new, low-floor vehicles and upgrades to all light rail stations, systems, and maintenance facilities.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board recently met for a budget workshop, during which staff outlined the significant service reductions Caltrain could be forced to make without new external funding.
Funding for the purchase of the railcars comes from the nearly $220 million in additional capital dollars Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated in November 2025 to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
With major events and increased travel expected across the state this summer, the Administration is focused on making sure people have a reliable, affordable alternative to driving so we can reduce congestion, support daily commuters, and keep Massachusetts moving.
