As part of the effort to improve infrastructure in the United States, part of the nation's railway system will receive $1.3 billion in grant funding. Amtrak will receive the funds from the $787 billion economic stimulus package, Vice President Joe Biden announced Friday.
At a ceremony in Washington, D.C., Biden - flanked by Jo Strang, Acting Federal Railroad Administrator and twelve members of Congress, 11 Democrats and Republican Senator from Pennsylvania Arlen Specter - proudly discussed how the $1.3 billion would be spent. He noted that 28 million passengers ride Amtrak every year, which averages out to 80,000 a day.
"For too long, we haven't made the investments we needed to make Amtrak as safe, as reliable, as secure as it can be," Biden said. "That ends now. The funds in the Recovery Act for Amtrak will help create jobs and at the same time, repair and update critical needs of our nation's infrastructure."
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was also present, praising the move as the Obama administration keeping its promise to boost infrastructure.
"We are investing in jobs that will allow Amtrak to add and modernize cars and engines and upgrade its tracks," LaHood said. "We are getting transportation money to Americans quickly in order to get the American economy going again."
The funding from the stimulus doubles Amtrak's capital investment program through 2010. According to the White House, the money will be used to upgrade railroad assets and infrastructure and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.