FRA Awards $8.2 Billion for High-Speed Rail and Pipeline of Projects

FRA has awarded $8.2 billion for 10 passenger rail projects across the U.S., while announcing corridor planning activities that will impact every region nationwide. To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced nearly $30 billion in investments for the U.S. rail system.

“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration takes another historic step to deliver the passenger rail system that Americans have been calling for – with $8.2 billion for faster, more reliable, expanded train service across the country,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With this funding, we’ll deliver America’s first high-speed rail on a route between Southern California and Las Vegas, complete major upgrades for riders in Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine, Montana, and Alaska, and announce a comprehensive plan that makes it easier to expand passenger rail lines in 44 states.”

At the same time, FRA is announcing 69 corridor selections across 44 states through the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program, which will drive future passenger rail expansion. This inaugural round of selections aims to upgrade 15 existing rail routes, add or extend service on 47 new routes, and advance seven new high-speed rail projects, creating a pipeline of intercity passenger rail projects ready for implementation and future investment. FRA will work closely with states, transportation agencies, host and operating railroads, and local governments to develop and build passenger rail projects faster than ever before.

“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law gave us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to think smart and think big about the future of rail in America, and we are taking full advantage of the resources we have to advance world-class passenger rail services nationwide,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “Today’s announcement is another step forward as we advance transformative projects that will carry Americans for decades to come and provide them with convenient, climate-friendly alternatives to congested roads and airports. We’re thinking about the future too with comprehensive and systematic planning efforts to transform the U.S. intercity passenger rail network now and in the years to come.”

APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas released the following statement in response to the announcement:

“The Biden Administration’s announcement today of investments supporting high-performance passenger rail networks are actions that will make our economy stronger, our environment cleaner, and economic and social opportunities more equitable. They put America a step closer to the balanced, integrated mobility network needed to compete in the global marketplace. These actions apply resources of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support development of ready-to-go corridors, while highlighting corridors most ripe for further planning. High-performance rail corridors will relieve congestion on highways and airspace and provide efficient, accessible, and environmentally friendly mobility options. These are forward-looking actions that put America on the right track.”