FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2019
CONTACT
Mike.Friedberg@hklaw.com
202-469-5131
(Washington, D.C.) – The Coalition for the Northeast Corridor (CNEC) commends the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration for awarding grants for the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program. Since January, CNEC has met with Members of Congress and DOT advocating for DOT to adhere to the deadline for awarding $275 million already appropriated by Congress to fund urgent rail projects along the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
“We thank DOT for their efforts to get this money out the door and on the ground to benefit the American public and businesses who rely on this infrastructure every day,” noted Mike Friedberg, Executive Director of CNEC. “Congress and the Administration need to put politics aside and fund vital Northeast Corridor projects, including final design and environmental work, that continue to shoulder the majority of our Nation’s ridership and economic movement.”
As a result of DOT’s action, vital projects along the NEC – including ones in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island – will receive funding. CNEC remains committed to fully funding NEC projects and to advocating to DOT and Congressional leadership regarding the importance of the Corridor with respect to the issuance of the Notice of Funding Availability for the remaining $400 million for the Federal-State Partnership.
Further, CNEC is committed to working within the next surface reauthorization to ensure the most vital projects are funded as quickly as possible.
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ABOUT THE COALITION FOR THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR
The Coalition for the Northeast Corridor (CNEC) represents the spectrum of transportation and business community stakeholders whose employees rely on the corridor to conduct commerce, create jobs, and drive the U.S. economy forward. The Coalition is a regional and national advocacy effort led by market participants that benefit most from a strong and vibrant Northeast Corridor, the end-users themselves.
https://www.coalitionforthenec.com/