Amtrak Awarded $126M in Federal CRISI Grants

The recent round of grants from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program includes nearly $126 million for Amtrak.

The funding awarded to Amtrak will support six projects directly benefiting more than two dozen states.

Awards are:

• Up to nearly $8.4 million for the Wolverine and Blue Water Niles-Glenwood Road capacity enhancement. Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation will contribute to the required local funding match. The project will advance final design for plans to increase capacity along a 19-mile, mostly the mostly single tracked segment of Amtrak’s Michigan Line, also benefiting Norfolk Southern.
• Up to $58.8 million for a grade crossing shunt enhancement safety project. Amtrak and California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin state departments of transportation will contribute the required local funding match.
• Up to more than $30.2 million for the Seligman Sub efficiency improvements project. Amtrak and BNSF will contribute the required local funding match.
• Up to $14.4 million for a mechanical craft workforce development apprenticeship training program. The three-level program will be offered in Beech Grove, Indiana; Wilmington, Delaware; Washington, D.C.; New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. Amtrak will contribute to the required local funding match.
• Up to more than $7.7 million for a city of Chester, Pennsylvania, high-security fence project along a segment of the Northeast Corridor. This should reduce unauthorized access along the NEC and increase safety for the surrounding communities in a high-risk area. Amtrak will contribute to the required local funding match.
• Up to $6.4 million for a roadway equipment repairmen training program. The funding will enable Amtrak to implement a program to attract new employees and provide continuing education for currently employed repairmen in Wilmington, Delaware, and Groton, Connecticut. Amtrak will contribute to the required local funding match.

Amtrak also supported several grants partners and other entities submitted.