Senator Collins Announces More Than $27 Million for Downeaster Corridor Track Improvements

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) will receive $27,490,000 through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Federal-State Partnership (FSP) for Intercity Passenger Rail-National Grant Program. Senator Collins previously sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of NNEPRA’s grant application.

“This investment will help address critical infrastructure needs on the Downeaster Corridor, improving safety, efficiency, and reliability of Maine’s passenger rail while strengthening the connection between communities from Brunswick to Massachusetts and their local economies,” said Senator Collins. “As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for investments into our state’s rail system."

Specifically, this funding will be used for track-related improvements on CSX Transportation’s (CSX) mainline from Brunswick to the Massachusetts state line, in addition to helping support planned future service expansions of the rail line. The improvements will help to reduce the need to impose slow orders on the Amtrak Downeaster service, which often results in delays and longer transit times.

Since 2009, when Senator Collins became a member of the Appropriations Committee, she has helped to secure more than $1 billion in competitive transportation grants for the State of Maine.  This funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Senator Collins co-authored.

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