State to get $70 million for rail improvements
Tunnel near Penn Station, upgrades to BWI track to benefit from stimulus
ANNAPOLIS — Two rail projects in the state will benefit from $70 million in federal stimulus aid.
The money will be used to complete engineering work and environmental studies and includes $60 million for the replacement of the Baltimore and Potomac rail tunnel located west of Baltimore's Penn Station and $9.4 million for the replacement of the building and for track upgrades at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport MARC/Amtrak Station in Anne Arundel County.
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) called the projects "critical components" of the state's MARC Growth and Investment Plan, which seeks to triple the capacity of the MARC system by establishing a series of milestones for phasing in track, facility and equipment improvements.
The rail tunnel, on the Penn Line that links Washington, D.C., Baltimore, New York and Boston, is used by Amtrak, MARC and Norfolk Southern. Total cost of the replacement tunnel is expected to approach $1 billion.
The BWI station track upgrades include funding for a fourth track and for adding boarding access on all four tracks — up from the current access on two. The total cost of the improvements is projected to be $80 million to $100 million.
O'Malley learned of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act aid on Wednesday during a phone call with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
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