PAWTUCKET, RI – Highlighting the importance of well-maintained rail networks, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $19,524,497 to upgrade key segments of freight rail tracks owned by Providence & Worcester Railroad (P&W) and New England Central Railroad (NECR). The overall project is expected to cost about $26 million, with $19.5 million in federal funding and a $6.5 million local match. Approximately 55.5 percent of the work will be done along P&W tracks in the Ocean State at a total cost of roughly $14.46 million.
The improvements will replace up to 48,000 feet of older, lighter rail, install 7,900 ties, and rebuild fourteen public grade crossings on the Providence & Worcester Railroad main line in Rhode Island, and reconfigure the tracks and replace nine track turnouts in the Valley Falls, Rhode Island P&W freight yard. The improved track turnouts will increase spacing and allow for more clearance for hazardous material shipments.
When it is completed the new track should result in enhanced operational efficiency with fewer delays and faster travel times.
The federal funding is administered by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) and made possible through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of both passenger and freight rail.
These CRISI program funds are made possible through a combination of annual appropriations and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–58), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“I’m pleased to deliver federal funds for these freight rail fixes. This is a smart investment in helping Rhode Island companies and business sectors get products and materials where they need to go safely, quickly, and efficiently. Making freight rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient for shippers will help strengthen our supply chains. It will also benefit local drivers on the road by addressing deficiencies at railroad crossings that contributed to vehicle damage,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who helped secure a total of $2.97 billion for the FRA in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill and helped set aside $100 million specifically for the competitive CRISI grants.
“This federal investment in Rhode Island’s freight rail infrastructure is a win-win for Rhode Island businesses and the public,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is at work supporting economic growth and keeping supply chains running smoothly and safely.”
“The infrastructure bill passed by Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration is once again delivering for Rhode Island by replacing aging infrastructure and putting people to work,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding will upgrade our state’s rail system to transport goods quickly and efficiently, and help local businesses compete in the national economy.”
“Freight rail is an essential part of Rhode Island’s economy and supports good paying jobs for workers in our state and across the region,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Thanks to this $19.5 million federal investment Senator Jack Reed helped secure, our rail systems will be safer and more efficient for the businesses and shippers who need strong supply chains for goods to be transported.”
