Amtrak will begin accepting applications on 23 March for the first round of community grants linked to the B&P Tunnel Replacement Program, which will modernise a critical rail corridor in Baltimore.
The grants form part of a 50 million USD community investment commitment aimed at reducing the impact of large-scale construction as work begins on the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment. Funding will be distributed through Amtrak’s Community Investment Program (CIP), supporting projects located close to the construction route.
The future Frederick Douglass Tunnel with electrified trains
Eligible not-for-profit organisations and city or state government bodies can apply for funding for projects within a quarter-mile of the rail alignment. Supported initiatives may fall into categories including community development, parks and recreation, open space, transportation improvements, workforce development and historic preservation.
FRA Administrator David Fink said:
Amtrak’s B&P tunnel is a critical component of our ongoing efforts to improve the state of good repair along the Northeast Corridor. As FRA Administrator, I look forward to working with Amtrak to make sure these dollars are spent efficiently and that the project is completed on time.
Alongside the grant scheme, Amtrak plans to establish a 2.75 million USD historic preservation fund to support projects in the Midtown Edmondson Historic District and Edmondson Avenue Historic District.
The company will also invest 5 million USD in a Workforce Hub aimed at preparing local residents for jobs linked to the tunnel project and other regional construction schemes, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and the Maryland Philanthropic Network.
Amtrak Assistant Vice President Luigi Rosa said:
The Community Investment Program is part of Amtrak’s commitment to mitigating construction impacts in the community as we deliver this critical infrastructure investment. We’ve also installed sound barriers, implemented noise and vibration monitoring, and deployed our outreach team to identify and address any issues that may arise. We will work diligently to administer the Community Investment Program effectively and efficiently.
The new tunnels will replace the existing Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel, which opened in 1873 and remains the oldest tunnel used by Amtrak. The 1.4-mile structure is considered a major bottleneck on the Northeast rail corridor, carrying around 15 million Amtrak and MARC passengers annually while limiting trains to speeds of about 30 mph.
Once completed, the project will deliver two new electrified passenger tunnels, rail upgrades across 10 miles of track and improvements to streets and bridges along the route, as well as a fully accessible West Baltimore MARC station.