Amplify: President Biden Announces Historic Investment to Improve Rail Travel
Delivering yet another major investment in American infrastructure, competitiveness and jobs, President Biden announced the allocation of $16.4 billion to fund 25 major passenger rail projects along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
These projects, authorized under President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will repair and replace bridges and tunnels, some of which are over 100 years old. The result will be faster, safer trains and more energy-efficient travel – along with the creation of 100,000 high paying jobs.
Highlights:
After decades of talk about the need to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure, the Infrastructure Law, enacted in November 2021, authorized a once-in-a-generation $1.2 Trillion investment in rail, roads, bridges, ports, broadband access, the power grid, clean water – and American jobs.
To date, over 20,000 projects have been funded through the Infrastructure Law, ranging from repaving roads and upgrading water system to bridge and transit projects
Among the many unprecedented investments to be made under Infrastructure Law are $66 billion to upgrade the nation’s rail system; $50 billion to build resilience to climate change and cyber-attacks; $73 billion to strengthen the power grid and develop alternative fuels; $65 billion for internet and broadband expansion and $25 billion for airport improvements.
The Northeast Corridor, which runs from Boston, MA to Washington, DC, is the most heavily traveled rail system in the United States, handling 800,000 trips per day through a region that represents 20 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product.
Combined with Amtrak’s fleet replacement program of almost $9 billion, over 1,000 locomotives and coaches will be replaced. The new, state-of-the art equipment will all be made in America and will raise the rail line’s speed and efficiency to meet 21st Century needs.
In stark contrast, Congressional Republicans have consistently sought to slash funding for passenger rail and other infrastructure priorities, such as through a proposed House bill to be voted on this month that would reduce funding for Amtrak by $1.5 billion, or approximately 64% annually.
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