WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced an amendment on Wednesday to the FY2019 Department of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bills to provide an additional $500 million the Northeast Corridor (NEC) rail system. Earlier this year, Murphy led a letter that was co-signed by Blumenthal calling for improvements and upgrades along the NEC.

“Train service along the northeast corridor needs some serious help. I constantly hear from commuters who want faster, more reliable rail service,” said Murphy. “I fought for a seat on the Appropriations Committee so I could help bring that money back to Connecticut. Our amendment would make much-needed investments in the northeast corridor and start chipping away at the backlog of projects needed to improve service.”

“The Northeast Corridor is the engine that moves our country’s economy. If we are serious about growing a 21st century workforce, we cannot rely on 19th century transportation. Real repairs and investments are needed now. This amendment would provide an important down payment toward what is ultimately needed to appropriately invest in our aging rail infrastructure,” said Blumenthal.

The NEC is an economic driver for Connecticut and the New England region. Seven million jobs are located within five miles of a train station on the line, workers who ride the NEC contribute $50 billion annually to the U.S. economy, and a loss of the NEC for a single day costs the United States $100 million in travel delays and lost productivity. However, the NEC has a state of good repair backlog of over $28 billion.

 

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