The federal government just allocated $1.4 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to support rail infrastructure projects nationwide. Funding will support 70 projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C. This year’s allocation is the largest that has ever been dispensed, partly because of disruptions in the supply chain caused by COVID-19. The federal funding will support track repair, rail upgrades, bridge work, and construction of new rail lines and facilities.
Aging and outdated railroads limit speed and weight, so the upcoming modernization projects will deliver faster railways and increase the efficiency of economic exchanges. Many of the projects funded will involve replacing older railways more prone to breakage and derailments.