Senator Reed was joined by Governor Gina Raimondo, members of the Congressional Delegation, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Amtrak to kick off a high-speed rail project at the Kingston Railway Station that will have long-term benefits for transit in Rhode Island and throughout the Northeast Corridor.
Through a $41 million project, crews will build an additional 1.5 miles of track near Kingston Station. These improvements will enable the high-speed Amtrak Acela trains to bypass regional trains and aid future development of commuter rail in South County.
The work is supported through $26.2 million in federal funds dedicated through the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Rhode Island was one of 15 states awarded a competitive grant in 2011, and was the only state to receive awards for two projects on the Northeast Corridor main line, the other being for the development of a long range plan at the Providence Station.
