justthenews.com/nation/states/feds-could-send-billions-tax-dollars-amtrak-northeast-corridor
The federal government could allocate nearly $6.6 billion in grants to Amtrak over the next five years for “activities associated with the Northeast Corridor.”
The money is included in the $78 billion Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021. The bill, which the Senate Committee on Commerce advanced this week, allocates $36 billion for rail projects, including $25 billion over five years for intercity passenger rail.
“This bill protects Amtrak’s treasured long-distance routes, provides funding to address the Northeast Corridor project backlog, and encourages expansion of passenger rail corridors with State support,” according to a fact sheet on the bill.
Last year, in a letter to lawmakers, Amtrak’s president said the railroad needed more than $1.7 billion in federal tax dollars for the corridor. This week, an Amtrak spokesperson did not provide details about how the railroad might use the $6.6 billion for the Northeast Corridor, which runs between Boston and Washington.