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The Rhode Island Department of Transportation recently received $5.4 million in federal funding for Wickford Junction Station as part of the South County Commuter Rail project.

Specifically, the Rhode Island DOT will receive $2.45 million to purchase land for a transit parking garage and access easements at Wickford Junction; $1.85 million for project design and engineering: and $1.2 million to purchase track.

“The need to expand commuter-rail service has become more and more essential as South County’s population has continued to grow,” said Sen. Jack Reed, (D-R.I.), a Senate Appropriations Committee member, in a prepared statement. “There isn’t a whole lot of room to build more roads, but we have the infrastructure in place to expand commuter rail and this money will help make it happen.”

The Rhode Island DOT also plans to extend Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s commuter-rail service to North Kingstown.