Vermont Delegation Announces More Than $60 Million in New Federal Funding to Complete Vermont’s Western Corridor Rail Line

BURLINGTON, VT – U.S. Representative Becca Balint (VT-AL) , U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) , and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today announced the delivery of $60.3 million in new federal funding, administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) to rehabilitate and complete approximately 60 miles of railway on Vermont’s Western Corridor rail line. “Repairing and upgrading our transportation infrastructure is a win-win for Vermont’s rural communities. This federal funding will help improve safety and reliability on the Vermont Railway, and support the development of rural towns up and down the Western Corridor,” said the Vermont Delegation . “With this $60 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Western Corridor will be complete, and western Vermont will finally be connected to the New York Penn Station line.” “This grant will support Vermont businesses who rely on rail to get their products to market regionally and nationally,” said Vermont Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn . “For bulk commodities, shipping by rail is often the most cost-effective, and upgrades to the Vermont Railway in western Vermont will enable our businesses to efficiently tap into the nation's major Class I railroads.” This new funding will help replace rail, realign track, and upgrade ties, ballast, turnouts, and 22 at-grade crossings to enhance safety, improve system and service performance, and increase reliability of rail service in Vermont. The funding is made possible through DOT’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. ###