Massachusetts Wins $472 Million in Federal Funding for
North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement
Largest federal award MBTA has won to date
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration, the
Massachusetts Congressional delegation and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu are
celebrating that Massachusetts has been awarded nearly half a billion dollars
from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace the North Station Draw
One Bridge. The project will allow for more train capacity, faster and more
reliable rides, and increased safety on MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak trains. The
$472,300,616 awarded to the MBTA came from the National Infrastructure Project
Assistance program (MEGA) as part of the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant
program. This is the largest federal award the MBTA has won to date.
“We know that improving our transportation infrastructure is
critical for improving quality of life and making sure Massachusetts remains
the best place to live, work, raise a family and build a future,” said Governor
Maura Healey. “That’s why our administration is competing so aggressively
to win federal funding that can be put toward our roads, bridges and public
transportation. Congratulations to General Manager Eng and the MBTA team for
this award that will improve train service for millions of riders. We’re
grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and U.S. Department of
Transportation for their continued investment in Massachusetts’ transportation
infrastructure.”
“As someone who often commutes from North of Boston, I know
firsthand what a difference this bridge replacement will make,” said Lieutenant
Governor Kim Driscoll. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration and the
MBTA, riders will have faster, safer and more reliable rides to and from North
Station. This project will support thousands of good-paying jobs and ensure our
infrastructure remains strong and safe into the future.”
“This $472 million investment is a game-changer for the
thousands of passengers who pass through North Station every day — and will
build a safer, more reliable public transit system for the Commonwealth,” said Senator
Elizabeth Warren. “Massachusetts leaders worked together to secure the
largest ever federal award for the T, and I won’t stop fighting to bring home
even more investment to improve transit across the Commonwealth.”
“With $472 million to replace the North Station drawbridge,
we’re drawing up a new future for rail transit north of Boston,” said Senator
Ed Markey. “I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris administration, Governor
Healey, General Manager Eng, Senator Warren, and our whole federal delegation
for securing this funding. Together, we are delivering critical federal dollars
to the T and building a modern, safe, and reliable public transit system for
all.”
“I am pleased to join my colleagues in government to
announce the State of Massachusetts was awarded over $472 million in federal
funding that will help improve MBTA and Amtrak services,” said Congressman
Stephen Lynch. “This funding is the result of our hard work and partnership
with the Biden-Harris administration to ensure we invest into our nation’s
transportation and infrastructure. People all over the Commonwealth rely on
public transportation every day, and this DOT grant is critical to make the
necessary repairs and replacements that will make train service more safe and
reliable.”
“Transit justice is a racial and economic justice issue, and
a matter of public safety – and this massive federal investment help make the
Commonwealth more connected and our transportation system safer and more
reliable for commuters,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “I’m glad
that families in the Massachusetts 7th who depend on the commuter rail will be
better able to access jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services in
other parts of the state, and we won’t stop fighting to build the more just,
equitable, and accessible transit system our communities deserve. I thank my
delegation colleagues and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their
partnership, and the Biden-Harris Administration for continuing to invest in
Massachusetts.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver
unprecedented federal investments to make our transit systems safer and more
efficient,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “This massive award is proof
that, thanks to the strong partnership between our federal delegation and the
Healey-Driscoll administration, Massachusetts continues to punch above our
weight when competing for federal funding.”
"This bridge is a critical connection point for the
communities north of Boston. This federal investment will improve the quality
of life for commuters, reduce traffic for everyone, and bring opportunity to
the Commonwealth,” said Congresswoman Katherine Clark. We will have a
faster, more modern, and more user-friendly public transportation system, and
that's exactly the direction we need to move in."
“Draw One is a critical piece of infrastructure for
Massachusetts and New England -- one that my constituents rely on each day.
This funding is a testament to the efforts of the Healey-Driscoll
Administration when it comes to fighting for every federal dollar to bring fast
and frequent transportation, a healthy climate, and economic opportunity to all
Massachusetts’ residents,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “Federal
investments like this one also set the stage for more strategic investments
that could transform our commuter rail system in one that better serves the
region for generations to come.”
“North Station Draw One is a connection point between Boston
and Cambridge, and the many cities and towns north who rely on this train
bridge to visit and work in our city,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
“Thanks to the leadership of our federal delegation and the Healey-Driscoll
administration in securing this funding, the Greater Boston area will see
benefits from updated infrastructure and more reliable transportation. This
funding for a bridge replacement represents our region’s commitment to our
local economy and green transit.”
Draw One is a Depression-era drawbridge that spans the
Charles River and connects the Cities of Boston and Cambridge. The bridge
carries the MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak trains, serving approximately
11,250,000 passengers per year. The MBTA lines that utilize the bridge are the
Haverhill, Lowell, Newburyport/Rockport, and Fitchburg Commuter Rail lines.
Project features include the replacement and modernization of the existing
drawbridge, replacement of a control tower, extension of the bridge platform,
connection of tracks 11 and 12 to the existing network, station improvements,
and upgrades to track, signal, communications, and infrastructure. The project
will also support more than 14,500 jobs, make the bridge more climate resilient
by brining it above project sea-level rise, and lower emissions.
“This is a huge win for the Healey-Driscoll administration,
General Manager Eng, and his team at the MBTA. We thank the Biden-Harris
Administration, US Department of Transportation, and our federal delegation for
their unwavering support for this transformational project,” said Transportation
Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “This funding will help build greater
connectivity for rail operations, create a better travel experience for users,
and provide key upgrades that will benefit residents and visitors alike.”
“I’m proud of the MBTA team that worked diligently to put
this project in a strong position to win this highly competitive federal award.
I thank the USDOT Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Deputy Secretary
of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, and our partners at the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA), Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, FTA Region 1
Administrator Pete Butler, and their entire team, for this incredible award
allowing us to deliver the North Station Draw 1 project, freeing up state
capital dollars for other essential needs,” said MBTA General Manager
Phillip Eng. “This award continues to demonstrate our aggressive approach
to pursuing all funding opportunities under the lead of the Healey-Driscoll
Administration as we pursue every available federal grant. Our Grants and North
Station Drawbridge teams deserve all the credit for their exceptional work to
secure this funding which allows us to ensure the efficient and reliable
movement of all North Station train lines while greatly improving our ability
to provide more frequent, regional rail-style service across the entire
northside corridor to serve future generations to come.”
The Healey-Driscoll Administration has prioritized
aggressively competing for federal funding. Since Governor Healey took office,
the state has pulled in almost $8 billion in federal funding, including over $4
billion allotted by formula and more than $3.5 billion in discretionary grant
awards. The funds have successfully supported projects across the state related
to transportation, climate resiliency, job creation, and economic
development.
“This is tremendous win demonstrates the continued success
of this administration's aggressive strategy for securing federal dollars,”
said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey.
"These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars will help us modernize and
improve this critical part of our public transit system, creating thousands of
jobs and benefitting millions of riders in the process. We are deeply grateful
to Secretary Buttigieg and all of the Biden-Harris administration for their
continued support of Massachusetts.”
This is the latest in a string of federal grants awarded to
the MBTA, which has successfully secured an award from every grant program it
has applied for since the beginning of the year, signaling a growth in
confidence in its ability to efficiently deliver productive results. Recent
awards include $67.6 million to advance accessibility at MBTA Green Line
stations, nearly $40 million in support of the Battery-Electric Bus Transition
Phase 1B Project to replace the diesel-fueled buses at the Quincy Bus Maintenance
Facility with state-of-the-art battery-electric buses (BEBs), $22 million to
construct hybrid center-running bus lanes and make bike and pedestrian
improvements through the Lower Broadway Everett Transit Priority Corridor
Project, $3.8 million in transit security funds, $2.1 million to pilot
technology upgrades on 175 buses to assist with “blind spot” challenges, and
$1.2 million to advance the Alewife Station and Garage Technical Assistance
Program.
Other recent major transportation awards for
Massachusetts include a total of $1.2 billion to replace the Cape Cod Bridges,
$335 million to reconnect communities and increase mobility through the Allston
I-90 Multimodal Project, $108 million for West-East Rail, $75 million for
schools to electrify their bus fleets, $60 million for transit agencies to
acquire zero- and low-emission buses, and $24 million to rehabilitate Leonard’s
Wharf in New Bedford.
