FRA
06-02
Tuesday, July 02, 2002
Contact: Robert L. Gould
Telephone: (202) 493-6024
Transportation Secretary Announces Grant to Amtrak for New York Rail Tunnel Improvements
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Federal Railroad
Administrator Allan Rutter today announced the award of a grant totaling
$76,748,000 to Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, to fund
improvements to the Amtrak-owned New York City tunnels.
“Securing
critical transportation infrastructure is one of President Bush’s highest
priorities,” Secretary Mineta said. “These
funds will aid Amtrak in safeguarding their passengers and provide travelers in
the greater New York area a significantly enhanced level of safety and
security.”
New
York Gov. George Pataki added, “This funding is an essential step in
addressing the pressing fire and life-safety issues in the aging tunnels leading
to and from Penn Station. I want to
commend Secretary Mineta for recognizing the federal commitment to this issue
and for providing funding to enhance the safety and security of these densely
traveled tunnels. Although these
tunnels are owned by Amtrak, over 300,000 New York and New Jersey commuters use
them each day. The federal funds
being released today will augment the investment New York has been making to the
East River tunnels and I look forward to working with the Secretary to ensure
that the federal commitment to these tunnels remains robust.”
The grant funds will be used to cover the costs of fire and life safety
improvements including: structural
rehabilitation; installation of modernized tunnel ventilation and communication
systems; and improvements for emergency access and egress.
The grant agreement provides for reimbursement to Amtrak of actual costs
incurred in making the improvements.
“These enhancements will help ensure the reliability and integrity of
these crucial rail gateways to and from the greater New York City area,” said
Administrator Rutter. “I’m
pleased that FRA is able to help Amtrak in achieving these significant safety
improvements.”
Funding for the grant was authorized through a $100 million appropriation contained in the FY 2002 Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery From and Response to Terrorist Acts on the United States Act. The amount of the grant covers Amtrak's planned capital expenditures on the New York tunnels during the current fiscal year. The remaining $23.25 million will be made available to Amtrak for its tunnel improvement program in FY 2003 through an amendment to the grant agreement announced today.
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