The Federal Railroad Administration recently awarded Amtrak and its Midwestern partners an up to $300 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant.
“These grants will directly support Amtrak priorities, including the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) – an Amtrak-led Midwest megaproject aimed at improving passenger rail service into Chicago – and advance our goal to double Amtrak ridership nationwide by 2040,” Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said.
The grant will support two projects:
- The Grade Crossing Shunt Enhancement Safety Project will receive up to $58.8 million. The project will install Onboard Shunt Enhancement devices on 443 locomotives and 192 cab cars.
- The Wolverine and Blue Water Capacity Enhancement: Niles-Glenwood Road project will receive up to $8.4 million. The project, a part of CHIP, will advance final design plans for a 19-mile, mostly single-tracked segment of the Amtrak-owned Michigan Line. The project will increase capacity.
Amtrak’s Midwestern partners also will have projects supported by the grant, including:
The City of Springfield will receive up to $157.1 million for Springfield Rail Improvements.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will receive up to $72.8 million for the Muskego Yard Bypass Project.
The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission will receive up to $1.84 million for the Future of Midwest Passenger Rail-Phase 1.