USDOT announces $4.2B in Mega, INFRA grant awards

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg today announced more than $4.2 billion in funding from two major discretionary grant programs has been awarded to 44 projects designed to improve safety, mobility and economic competitiveness. 

The awards were granted through the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program and Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program. 

Mega projects awarded grants include:

• $472.3 million to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for the North Station Renovation and Draw 1 Bridge Replacement project in Boston. The project will replace Draw 1, a 92-year-old bridge that links Amtrak’s Downeaster intercity passenger rail service and four separate MBTA regional rail lines to North Station, as well as extend and activate a two-track platform at North Station and replace track, signals and switches throughout the project area;

• $210 million to the CREATE Project EW2A, to make improvements along a 3-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago's South Side. The project will reconfigure track segments and signals at Belt Junction; add a third track to the Norfolk Southern Railway line; replace and restore 14 aging bridge and viaduct structures; and implement mobility improvements on surface streets throughout the corridor. This project will also receive $81 million from the INFRA Grant program for a full award amount of $291.2 million; and

• $54.5 million to the Madera High-Speed Rail Station project. The project calls for constructing a high-speed rail station for the Merced-Bakersfield California High-Speed Rail interim service. The project includes design and construction of the station, making improvements at the relocated Madera Amtrak Station location. These include new platforms, trackwork, an overhead contact system, a bus depot, expanded auto parking, an access roadway network, a multi-use path and a station building.

Selected INFRA projects receiving grants include:

 • $80 million to the AllianceTexas Inland Port project, which calls for construction of 15 miles of State Highway 170/Intermodal Parkway Smart Connected Corridor to connect the BNSF Railway Co. intermodal facility with warehouse and distribution facilities. The project includes freight traffic signal optimization at thirteen locations, shared use paths and port lanes; and

• $33.8 million to the Paducah & Louisville Railway (P&L) infrastructure project, which calls for upgrading 180,000 linear feet of rail on the entire 280-mile line. The project includes traffic control system upgrades between Louisville and Gilbertsville, Kentucky; acquisition and installation of a wheel truing system at the Paducah Roundhouse, and the rehabilitation of five bridges.

“P&L is excited to continue our work to rebuild critical freight railroad infrastructure. This project will benefit all Kentuckians by keeping employers in the commonwealth connected to markets around the world," said P&L Transportation Chairman, CEO and President Tom Greene in a press release issued by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) office.