MassDOT’s Post

Big news! The Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Administration has awarded Amtrak an unprecedented nearly $10 billion in federal funding that will help transform the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and your future travel experience. These grants will support work to:  ✔️ Replace aging tunnels, bridges and tracks  ✔️ Improve safety, reliability and travel speeds  ✔️ Expand capacity for more trains and riders  ✔️ Modernize America’s busiest rail corridor These grants will help advance our plans to modernize the NEC and unlock major bottlenecks on America’s busiest rail corridor.     We want to thank President Biden, USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FRA Administrator Amit Bose for their continued support as Amtrak and our partners rebuild this critical asset. With this funding, we’re not just rebuilding; we’re continuing our mission of delivering a new era of rail for you, our customers, stakeholders and employees. Want to learn more about this historic news? Read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/gaQz7Wct.   #Amtrak #NEC #NortheastCorridor #Infrastructure

After releasing our high-speed rail report, it has received some nice media coverage. In this article, two key elements arise that I want to underscore. First, when we published the report, we were very self-conscious about not including a map with proposed routes. We didn’t include a map because that’s not where we need help! We need to address first order issues like governance and planning. There are already a number of good maps out there, and there are no secret city pairs that people haven’t already considered. A magical Cheyenne to Jacksonville route isn’t about to emerge. Second, the article references the 2000 Republican Party platform, which supported a national high-speed network. What is currently missing is alignment re: whether or not we should build high-speed rail. When we spoke to people abroad they stressed that the debate was about WHERE to build, and not about whether or not they should build high-speed rail. If only we had that kind agreement at the federal level: https://lnkd.in/e25FGQjQ

High-Speed Rail in America: The Future of Transportation? 🌟 🚄 The United States is one of the few developed countries without a comprehensive high-speed rail network. However, there are a number of projects underway that could change that. 🌎 One of the most ambitious projects is the California High-Speed Rail, which is expected to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles at speeds of up to 200 mph. The project is currently under construction, but it has faced a number of challenges, including cost overruns and delays. Another major project is Brightline West, which is a privately-financed high-speed rail line that will connect Las Vegas to Victorville, California. The line is expected to open in 2024 and could eventually be extended to Los Angeles. There are also a number of smaller high-speed rail projects in the works, including projects in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, and Florida. The development of high-speed rail in America has been met with mixed reactions. Some people believe that it is a necessary investment in the future of transportation, while others believe that it is too expensive and unrealistic. Only time will tell whether high-speed rail will become a reality in America. However, the projects that are underway are a sign that there is growing interest in this technology. The future of high-speed rail in America is uncertain. However, the projects that are underway are a sign that there is growing interest in this technology. If these projects are successful, they could help to make high-speed rail a more viable option for transportation in the United States. 🚇 What do you think about the future of high-speed rail in America? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. 💭

Feature Presentation at Infraday East - Dec. 12 - NYC - www.infraday.com/east - "Working With Railroads to Successfully Bring About Capital Projects Along the Northeast Corridor" - There is much political and ridership interest in expanding rail service throughout the Northeast Rail Corridor. Organizations ranging from the federal down to the local township level, along with private industry, are making a variety of plans ranging from adding passenger train service, to decreasing trip times, to diverting more freight traffic from highways, to building Transit Oriented Development. However, the railroads operating along this route are responsible first and foremost for maintaining the currently scheduled service – along a route that is at capacity in certain areas, and close to capacity along the rest. When negotiating their plans with railroads, outside organizations often are blindsided by the railroads’ demands and costs. Understanding railroad operations and the complexities of working on, and around, very active rail lines will give outside organizations a better understanding of the reasons behind the railroads’ requirements and better prepare planners for working with the railroads to bring their projects to fruition. This will be presented by Jan Kozlowski, Director Maintenance of Way Capital Construction, Metro-North Railroad #railroads #NEC #infrastructure

HUGE NEWS: The California High-Speed Rail project gets largest federal grant to date -- nearly $3.1 billion in Federal-State Partnership funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration! This funding is critical to moving the nation’s first high-speed rail system toward passenger service by the end of the decade. This project has seen huge progress over the last few years, and we’re not slowing down: 🏗️ 119 Miles of Construction 👷♂️ 12,200+ Jobs Created 👪 800+ Small Business Partners 💰 $16B in Economic Output This is largest transportation grant the project has ever received and is further proof of President Biden’s strong and continuing support to build the fast, efficient, and clean 21st century transportation system that Americans deserve. #BuildHSR #CleanGreenHSR

A new collaboration between Amtrak and Texas Central Partners could put the proposed high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas back on track. Texas Central, which is developing the rail line, and Amtrak said Aug. 9 they are seeking opportunities intended to advance the plans and analysis work of the project to determine its feasibility. The two companies have worked together since 2016 on bullet-train efforts, such as providing through-ticketing with Amtrak’s reservation service as well as other support services for the planned rail line. The proposed 205-mph train would shorten the trip along the approximately 240-mile route to less than 90 minutes between the two cities while also complementing new and improved corridors of long-distance service in the future;

$176B plan unveiled to rebuild Northeast rail corridor: The Northeast Corridor Commission was announced on November 16th, outlining a 15-year plan to rebuild the Boston-New York City- Washington, D.C., rail line. This plan is a revised version of the original from 2021, which detailed the repairs needed, service goals and the necessary infrastructure. The estimated inflation-adjusted cost is now $176 billion year-of-expenditure dollars. The NEC carries the commuter trains of transit agencies that serves Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. This means that the NEC will handle 60% more commuter trains and 50% more Amtrak trains between Boston and New York City. Improvements will accommodate 51 million more travellers each year, shifting 38 million car trips and 600,000 short-haul plane trips to rail. Read more about the project funding: #rail #northeastcorridor #federalrailroad #civilengineering

THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (4IR), INVESTING IN A NATIONAL INTERSTATE HIGH SPEED RAIL (NIHSR) SYSTEM IS CRUCIAL FOR MAINTAINING OUR NATION’S COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD DURING THE 21st CENTURY. The advantages of integrating the existing Interstate Highway System with the High Speed Rail System, High Speed Internet and a new Electric Grid System dedicated to the HSR and Highway System Part 1 of 3 Integrating the existing Interstate Highway System with the Interstate High-Speed Rail System, High-Speed Internet, and the Electric Grid System offers a comprehensive approach with numerous advantages: 1. Seamless Transportation Network: Integration creates a unified and seamless transportation network, enabling passengers and freight to seamlessly transition between high-speed rail and highway travel modes. 2. Efficient Passenger and Freight Movement: The coordinated system optimizes the movement of passengers and freight, utilizing the strengths of each mode to enhance overall transportation efficiency. 3. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: A unified system allows for shared electrification infrastructure, reducing energy consumption and fostering sustainability by promoting the use of clean energy sources. 4. Smart Transportation Systems: Integration facilitates the development of smart transportation systems that leverage high-speed internet connectivity to enhance traffic management, safety, and communication between vehicles and infrastructure. 5. Grid Resilience and Flexibility: The integration of the electric grid system enhances grid resilience by incorporating redundancy and flexibility, ensuring reliable power supply for both transportation and general utility needs. 6. Multimodal Connectivity: Passengers and businesses benefit from seamless connectivity between high-speed rail, highways, high-speed internet, and the electric grid, creating a truly multimodal transportation experience. 7. Digital Infrastructure Support: High-speed internet integration supports the development of a robust digital infrastructure, enabling real-time data exchange, smart city applications, and improved connectivity for travelers. 8. Economic Development: The integrated system promotes economic development by facilitating efficient transportation and supporting industries that rely on high-speed rail, highways, and digital connectivity. This Post is related to the subject matter as presented above. For more information contact us at E2NPC or see the links below. It is at least 10 minutes read out.., but if you are interested ...it is worth your spent time. …….. While the advantages are significant, achieving successful integration requires collaboration among government agencies, private sectors, and technology providers to address technical, regulatory, and logistical challenges. https://lnkd.in/ePFj5RdB https://lnkd.in/eNpTtqYH https://lnkd.in/euh6gBEN

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that makes available more than $2 billion in Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program funding for projects located on the Northeast Corridor (Fed State-NEC). The corridor supports several hundred thousand passengers per day and billions of dollars in annual economic activity. Modernizing this critical infrastructure to provide safer, faster, and more reliable passenger rail service for travelers and commuters is a key part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. “Hundreds of thousands of passengers travel along the Northeast Corridor every day, and the Biden-Harris Administration is funding much-needed improvements to this vital rail corridor,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With over $2 billion becoming available today, we will build on investments initiated last year and continue propelling America’s busiest passenger rail corridor towards greater speed, safety, and reliability.” Last year, FRA awarded $16.4 billion for 25 projects of national significance along the corridor, which runs from Boston, MA, to Washington, DC. These investments will rebuild tunnels and bridges that are more than 100 years old; upgrade tracks, power systems, signals, stations, and other infrastructure; and advance future projects to significantly improve travel times by increasing operating speeds and reducing delays. “The President’s investments in rail will be felt by generations to come, beginning with immediate benefits to communities and continuing to ensure essential rail corridors like the Northeast Corridor are modern, safe, and convenient, giving Americans access to world-class passenger service,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “We are thrilled to announce the opening of the Fed State-NEC’s notice of funding to applicants within the NEC Project Inventory, streamlining the process for much-needed funding based on demand.” Competitive funding through the Fed State-NEC program is guided by FRA’s NEC Project Inventory, which identifies and prioritizes projects along the corridor. Learn more about applying > https://lnkd.in/eRHxVbjB

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that makes available $2.03 billion in Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program Funding for Projects Located on the Northeast Corridor (Fed State-NEC). The corridor supports 800,000 passengers per day and billions of dollars in annual economic activity.  The available funding builds on historic Northeast Corridor investments by the Biden-Harris Administration, including funding to advance major projects like the Gateway Program Hudson River Tunnel Project in New York and New Jersey, the Fredrick Douglass Tunnel and Susquehanna River Bridge Replacement Programs in Maryland, the Connecticut River Bridge Replacement in Connecticut and the New York Penn Station Access Project.  “Thousands of passengers travel along the Northeast Corridor every day and the Biden-Harris Administration is funding much-needed improvements to this vital rail corridor,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With more than $2 billion becoming available today, we will build on investments initiated last year and continue propelling America’s busiest passenger rail corridor towards greater speed, safety and reliability.”  In 2023, FRA awarded $16.4 billion for 25 projects of national significance along the corridor, which runs from Boston, Mass., to Washington, D.C. The investments will rebuild tunnels and bridges that are more than 100 years old; upgrade tracks, power systems, signals, stations and other infrastructure and advance future projects to significantly improve travel times by increasing operating speeds and reducing delays.   “The president’s investments in rail will be felt by generations to come, beginning with immediate benefits to communities and continuing to ensure essential rail corridors like the Northeast Corridor are modern, safe and convenient, giving Americans access to world-class passenger service,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “We are thrilled to announce the opening of the Fed State-NEC’s notice of funding to applicants within the NEC Project Inventory, streamlining the process for much-needed funding based on demand.”   Competitive funding through the Fed State-NEC program is guided by FRA’s NEC Project Inventory, which identifies and prioritizes projects along the corridor. The NEC Project Inventory serves as a project pipeline to assist Amtrak, states and the public in long-term capital planning for the NEC. NEC Projects must be included in the latest version of the inventory to be eligible for Fed State-NEC funding.   Applications for funding are due July 14. Fed State-NEC Program requirements, as well as the evaluation and selection criteria for grant selections are outlined in the NOFO. FRA will also support applicants with web-based training and live technical assistance.