The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and Amtrak will receive a grant worth $US 144m to fund two bridge replacement projects along the Northeast Corridor, over the Norwalk and Connecticut rivers.

The project to replace the existing movable 122-year-old Norwalk River Bridge with two independent two-track vertical lift rail bridges will receive a $US 79.7m grant.

The project includes supporting work on bridge approach embankments and retaining walls, installation of new catenary structures, and signalling upgrades. Amtrak and MTA Metro-North New Haven Line commuter services operate over the bridge.

The project to replace the 113-year-old Connecticut River Bridge between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook with a new moveable bridge will receive $US 65.2m. The replacement bridge will maintain the two-track configuration and existing channel location, and provide a bascule moveable span with additional vertical clearance for maritime traffic. Amtrak and CTDOT Shore Line East commuter services currently operate on the route.

California

The $US 9.8m grant for California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) - alongside $US 9.8m in state and local funding - will help upgrade train and crossing control systems to improve signal reliability, reduce train delays, and enhance safety for passenger and freight services.

The project, which will be ready for bid by mid-2021, will advance the San Diego Next Generation and Grade Crossing Modernisation Project, which is updating signalling and Positive Train Control (PTC) systems along the San Luis Obispo - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles - San Diego rail corridor.

“This grant builds on our efforts to increase passenger and freight train frequencies to support mobility, economic and environmental goals,” says Mr Tony Kranz, NCTD board chair and council member for the city of Encinitas.

New Jersey

New Jersey Transit (NJT) will receive $US 18.3m to support upgrades at the Trenton Transit Centre.

The centre, which is on the Northeast Corridor, serves NJT’s commuter line and the light rail River Line, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (Septa) Trenton Line, as well as 11 Amtrak inter-city lines.

The project will rehabilitate the station’s two island platforms, including the restoration of platform canopies; the replacement of wooden platform sections with a concrete surface; addition of tactile strips and rub rails; reconstruction of platform deck joints; and repair of concrete spalls. An accessible high-level platform with an elevator from the concourse level will also be constructed.

NJT and Amtrak will contribute $US 7.1m and $US 1.6m respectively, to complete the project and facilitate future service expansion.

SOGR is a $US 291.4m grant programme, which supports projects that repair, replace or rehabilitate qualified railway assets to reduce maintenance backlogs and improve inter-city passenger rail performance.