USDOT releases $35 million for NNEPRA rail projects
6 July 2010The State of Maine has been awarded $35 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA).
The grant agreement between State of Maine and USDOT allows NNEPRA to take up work on the rehabilitation and expansion of the popular state-supported Downeaster Amtrak intercity passenger service. The Downeaster-Portland North Project will extend service from Portland to Brunswick. The grant will also rehabilitate nearly 26.4 miles of existing rail lines owned by Pan Am Railways and construct two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant passenger platforms. The Downeaster project will improve 36 highway-rail grade crossings, upgrade numerous wayside signals, install signals on the Brunswick Branch and result in many other right of way improvements. Construction on the project is expected to begin in the next few days and will continue over the next 28 months.
