The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has recently announced a substantial investment of $8.2 billion in rail projects across the country. The funds are expected to facilitate 10 passenger rail projects, as well as corridor planning initiatives that will impact every region of the United States.
In a DOT news release, it was stated that this funding follows a November announcement detailing an investment of $16.4 billion for the development of a nationwide railroad transit system. This system will involve 25 projects within the nation's most active rail corridor.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, "Today, the Biden-Harris Administration takes another historic step to deliver the passenger rail system that Americans have been calling for – with $8.2 billion for faster, more reliable, expanded train service across the country." He added, "With this funding, we’ll deliver America’s first high-speed rail on a route between Southern California and Las Vegas, complete major upgrades for riders in Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine, Montana and Alaska, and announce a comprehensive plan that makes it easier to expand passenger rail lines in 44 states."
The DOT news release also noted that these projects are being led by the Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (Fed-State National) Program. The program's goal is to advance two high-speed rail corridors and provide funds to enhance existing rail corridors for improved performance. Among the key improvements facilitated by these investments are high-speed rail service in California's Central Valley; a new high-speed rail corridor between Las Vegas, Nevada and Southern California; and rehabilitation of rail corridors to better connect Northern Virginia and the southeast with the northeast corridor while enhancing the Pennsylvania Keystone Corridor between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
FRA Administrator Amit Bose said regarding this development: "Today’s announcement is another step forward as we advance transformative projects that will carry Americans for decades to come and provide them with convenient, climate-friendly alternatives to congested roads and airports." He continued, "We’re thinking about the future too with comprehensive and systematic planning efforts to transform the U.S. intercity passenger rail network now and in the years to come."
