Updating Northeast Corridor Will be Complex and Costly

[marmar]

Updating Northeast Corridor Will be Complex and Costly

Paul Nussbaum
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Created: June 7, 2013


Faster, better passenger train service on the overcrowded Northeast Corridor will require more cooperation — and money — from eight states and the District of Columbia, eight commuter rail agencies, Amtrak, and freight railroads, rail experts said this week.

A new federal law requires the many users of the 457-mile corridor to come up with a cost-sharing plan by October 2014, and local transit authorities such as SEPTA fear that will mean higher costs for them.

States as well are struggling to pay for new Amtrak requirements. For instance, Pennsylvania in March agreed to pay $3.8 million to save passenger train service between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.

"This kind of financial picture is very troubling," said Byron Comati, director of strategic planning at SEPTA. "Some of the states are going to have real problems with how these numbers shake down." ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/10956803/upgrades-to-northeast-corridor-will-be-costly