The grant will fund track and signal improvements to allow more trains to run faster on a segment between Boston and Springfield.
Federal and Massachusetts officials announced a $108 million grant for improving rail infrastructure between Springfield and Boston, according to Christian MilNeil, writing in Streetsblog Mass.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's expanded Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) program and “will upgrade key bottlenecks on the 54-mile section of railroad that connects Worcester and Springfield – a segment of railway that's owned by CSX, a privately-owned freight rail corporation.”
With the new funds, MassDOT plans to add a new passing track and upgrade signals and tracks to allow trains to run faster. “Those proposed track improvements could enable Amtrak trains to run up to 80 mph, and reduce the time for passenger rail trips between Boston and Springfield to 2 hours and 10 minutes – roughly the same amount of time it takes to drive.”
FULL STORY: Officials Announce $108 Million Federal Grant to Build East-West Rail
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