Northeast Corridor gets another railroad pledge, claims 100,000 jobs will be created
The U.S. government announced $16.4 billion in new funding November 6 for 25 passenger rail projects on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor aimed to rebuild tunnels and bridges that are over 100 years old; upgrade tracks, power systems, signals, stations, and other infrastructure. Specific areas designated for funding and/or refurbishment are detailed in the map below:
A map of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, with planned designations for refurbishment.—White House photo
Combined with Amtrak’s nearly $9 billion fleet replacement program, which plans to replace “over 1,000 locomotives and coaches with state-of-the art and Made-in-America equipment,” the funding will also reportedly contribute to more than 100,000 jobs in construction.
The Northeast Corridor, running from Boston, MA, to Washington, DC, is the most heavily traveled rail corridor in the United States, supporting 800,000 trips per day in a region that represents 20% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product. The trains carry five times more passengers than all flights between Washington and New York.
Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor also emit up to 83% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to car travel and up to 72% less greenhouse gas emissions than flying, according to a fact sheet released by the White House Nov. 6, which claims "if the Northeast Corridor shut down for a single day, it would cost the economy $100 million in lost productivity."
Despite its importance, the Corridor hasn’t seen major investment in generations. The Northeast Corridor that exists today is the product of investments that date back to the 1830s, and many of the existing bridges and tunnels were built in the early twentieth century. Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Northeast Corridor is finally on track to be rebuilt to meet the needs of 21st century travelers.
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