Officials announced a $10 million federal rail grant Monday that will help the state complete improvements along the main north-south train route up the western side of Vermont.
A release from Sen. Patrick Leahy’s office said the state plans to match the $10 million federal grant with its own funds. The goal of the work is to “remove the final hurdle for restoring passenger service between Rutland and Burlington,” the release said.
The federal money is coming through the $500 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, according to the release.
The Vermont Rail Action Network (VRAN), an advocacy group focused on improving the state’s railway infrastructure, called the announcement a victory.
“Vermont’s congressional delegation deserves our praise for successfully backing this application, making sure the Secretary of Transportation know how much it mattered to Vermont,” said VRAN Executive Director Christopher Parker in a statement.
Parker VRAN believes that the Shumlin administration’s plan to commit state funding to the improvements “did the trick in making a successful application” for the funds.
The state’s long-term planning for rail infrastructure is ongoing this year, with officials working to finalize the Vermont State Rail Plan after receiving public input over the summer. Part of that plan is the expanded use of the state’s railway network for passenger trains.
