The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a $2.8 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to push forward plans for an Amtrak connection at the T.F. Green International Airport.
That money was given to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), for planning efforts undertaken between the state and Amtrak. T.F. Green is currently connected to Providence, Rhode Island, and Boston through the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter rail line. With three added stops in Rhode Island, Amtrak wants to expand operations. Supporters said making T.F. Green one of those stops could attract more investment and transportation options to Rhode Island.
“Bringing Amtrak service directly to T.F. Green could help make the airport more accessible and better connect Rhode Islanders to opportunities and transportation choices,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) said. “I will continue to support the state’s efforts at the federal level and work to ensure that any plan to move forward is undertaken in a smart, cost-effective manner that builds on the significant investments we have already made.”
The millions in CRISI funding will assist RIDOT in setting up a review of track and signal improvements, as well as the operating costs that would allow Amtrak to reach T.F. Green. Reed was at the forefront of efforts to provide those efforts with $255 million this year, along with another $1.94 billion for Amtrak. He also included language in the 2016 Transportation Appropriations bill that required the FRA to coordinate a feasibility analysis with Amtrak and RIDOT.
Now, he is being assisted by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and David Cicilline (D-RI), and is backed by the FRA’s 2017 feasibility study, which showed that upgrades would be required at T.F. Green Station to make room for Amtrak efforts.
“Bringing Amtrak to our airport and strengthening the link between multiple modes of transportation there will have a positive impact on Rhode Island’s economy and will be an important factor in further developing T. F. Green Airport’s great potential,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, said. “RIDOT is looking forward to working with our partner Amtrak to make these improvements a reality.”