Costello, Meehan secure $500 million for Northeast Corridor funding

U.S. Reps. Ryan Costello, R-6, and Patrick Meehan, R-7, announced their request for $500 million in funding for the Northeast Corridor (NEC), the most important rail corridor in the country, was included in the Housepassed Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, legislation to provide funding for the federal government.

Earlier this year, Costello and Meehan wrote to the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development requesting $500 million

in funding for the FederalState Partnership for State of Good Repair grant program, a program created in the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act law to restore existing rail assets along the corridor. The Northeast Corridor Commission’s 2017 annual report estimates the state of good repair backlog amounts to an estimated $38 billion.

Constituents in both Costello and Meehan’s congressional districts rely on the Northeast Corridor for daily work commutes, as well as for recreational travel. The NEC also serves as a primary connector to economic hubs up and down the East Coast, and is estimated to carry 750,000 individual trips each day.

“This funding is vital to making sure Pennsylvanians travel safely and that businesses utilizing the Northeast Corridor are not negatively impacted from the corridor’s disrepair,” said Costello. “I also thank Congressman Meehan for his work in partnering with me to help to secure this funding for our constituents.”

“Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor is a critical artery that connects our region with New York, Washington and other cities along the eastern seaboard,” said Meehan. “Every day, thousands of residents in our area make use of the Northeast Corridor for business and personal travel. This funding will help ensure they’re able to do so efficiently and safely. This funding should also finally spur action to rename Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station in honor of the late William H. Gray III in accordance with legislation

passed by Congress in 2014. I’m grateful to my colleagues for including this funding in the Housepassed spending bill and I’m pleased to work with Costello and the other members of our regional delegation to ensure the Northeast Corridor receives the funding it needs.”

Costello and Meehan both called on the Senate to include this funding in the appropriations legislation to be considered by the Senate.