SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – West-East Rail, a project underway to offer commuters service between western Massachusetts to Boston has reached a new milestone on Tuesday.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has been awarded $36.8 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program.
Amtrak ridership on the increase in Massachusetts
The funds will be used to complete the design for the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration Project including track, signal, and infrastructure improvements at Springfield Union Station to increase rail capacity and reduce congestion.
“This award moves us one step closer to making West-East Rail a reality. By making these critical upgrades at Springfield’s Union Station, we’ll be able to expand rail capacity and ensure smoother service across Western Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our team at MassDOT and our entire administration has been aggressively competing for every opportunity to bring home federal dollars to our communities, and we keep winning. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued investment in Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure and to our Congressional delegation for their strong partnership.”