From staff and AP reports

Vermont is to receive $50 million in federal funds for major rail improvements along Amtrak’s Vermonter line, which runs through Essex Junction and has its northern terminus in St. Albans.

The Vermont grant money will be put to work immediately.

“Construction activity will create numerous jobs over the next two years,” said David Dill, Vermont’s Transportation Secretary. “Our goal is to get people hired and rail crews working as early as possible this spring.”

President Barack Obama made the awards official last Friday in Orlando, Fla. as part of an announcement of $8 billion in national high-speed-rail awards.

The funding in the Northeast, an anticipated $160 million, will help pay for construction of track, roadbed and bridge improvements along 190 miles of New England Central Railroad (NECR) track used by Amtrak’ Vermonter service between St. Albans and Springfield, Mass., according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

NECR is a “host railroad” for the Vermonter and operates over a 236-mile portion of its track between St. Albans and Palmer, Mass. Between 2005 and 2008, the Vermonter experienced a dramatic 44-percent increase in ridership, while achieving the second-highest on-time performance across the Amtrak system.

The 236-mile portion of the Vermonter route that runs on the NECR is heavily used, with more than 77,000 passengers in 2008 alone.

The upgrades will allow trains to travel up to 79 mph in some sections – cutting up to an hour off travel time between St. Albans and Washington, D.C. 

Gov. Jim Douglas said, “Shortening the travel time between Vermont and major destinations like New York City and Washington D.C. will not only benefit our economy, but expanding this type of public transportation is one of the best measures we can take to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The high-speed-rail projects, mentioned during the president’s State of the Union address last week, are being provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. More than $55 billion in applications were submitted for the $8 billion available under the recovery bill that Congress passed last year.

A $500,000 grant for Vermont was included for planning studies for a proposed rerouting of Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express service between Rutland and New York. The proposed rerouting will introduce service to communities that now lack intercity passenger rail service.

Communities along the existing route would continue to be serviced by intercity passenger rail service along the west side of Vermont – from Burlington to Bennington, and then on into New York State.

Developing these options would position Vermont to apply for rail construction funds that will be awarded in future years, said the governor’s office.

Speaking of the Vermont grant, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said, “Amtrak brings direct and indirect commerce to our state, as well as giving Vermonters more travel options.  This is an investment in our future and a vote of confidence in this rail line.” 

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I. Vt, agreed saying, “This is great news. It will create much-need jobs for Vermont now, provide a long-term boost for our economic future, and help Vermont become energy efficient as we strengthen our public transportation.”

Congressman Peter Welch, D-Vt, said, “Most importantly, it will provide an enormous and immediate economic boost, creating jobs throughout Vermont.”

As expected, local reaction was positive. “My feeling about the stimulus grant is that it’s great news for the state and for Essex Junction,” Essex Junction Rep. Tim Jerman said. “Being able to upgrade that rail to the 286 weight will really help the freight coming in and out of Canada and it’s going to be very good for Vermont’s economy down the road.”

Rep. Linda Waite-Simpson was equally enthusiastic. “It is always good news when rail money comes our way – the passenger line has seen increased ridership of late and if we can improve the track conditions so that it doesn’t take quite so long to make this trip, I am sure ridership will continue to grow.”

Waite-Simpson advo-cated the expansion of commuter rail service in the future. “I do hope that Vermont reconsiders its decision to stop the Essex Junction to Burlington link.  Connecting the Eastern and Western corridors makes good sense – both in terms of planning and in terms of efficient utilization of state and federal dollars,” she said.

Village of Essex Junction trustee George Tyler, who also serves on the Village’s Railroad Avenue Revitalization committee, also noted the importance of commuter rail service. “The first step for our long term strategy is to have the rail bed upgraded. That’s the limitation right now. In the future we hope to have a commuter rail to Burlington and St. Albans. It will help alleviate traffic congestion.”

Tyler added, “I want to thank the Vermont delegation for working on this. It’s enlightened for the federal government to be working on passenger rail service.”

The announcement of the funding to upgrade rail coincides with a public forum presented by the Railroad Avenue Revitalization Project. All Aboard For Downtown Essex Junction will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Essex High School. The forum, which is being moderated by the Vermont Council on Rural Development, is a chance for the public to give input on the future of the area around the train station and the CCTA bus terminal.

Tyler stressed that input to the forum is welcomed from community members who reside in the greater community. “It really is for everybody, not just the people in the Village. It’s part of Essex.”

Wendy Hatoum contributed to this report.