Delaware Awarded Four Federal Grants to Support Public Transportation

Shares in a Fifth Multi-State Grant to Improve the Northeast Rail Corridor

Dover -- Governor Jack Markell and Delaware's Congressional Delegation announced today the awarding of five important federal grants that will improve rail and transit infrastructure in the First State. The grants, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), will provide needed funding to complete major rail projects along the Northeast Corridor, improve transit facilities in Sussex County, and replace aging buses in the DART First State fleet.

The awarded grants reinforce the importance of infrastructure improvements recently discussed by President Obama and Governor Markell at the White House last week. All the grant monies being highlighted are from the Federal FY 2010 appropriations funds, which is not affiliated with the Federal Stimulus program Congress appropriated the discretionary money to USDOT, which was then required to award the money through a competitive grant process.
Awarded Grants:
* $13 million from the FRA for the construction of a third track on the Northeast Corridor south of Wilmington. The project will increase travel times and reduce train conflicts in the area. This funding completes the $40 million needed to begin the project. The project is expected to start in early 2011 and will produce 115 construction jobs and up to 15 permanent jobs over time.
* $5 million grant from the FTA to build a new DART Maintenance facility and Park & Ride lot at site of the former Wright Chrysler automotive dealership along Route 1 near Five Points in Lewes.
* $3.7 million FTA grant to replace seven transit buses with 40-foot hybrid diesel buses.
* $2.25 million planning grant from USDOT to address transportation needs and design expansion of the Newark Rail Station. The grant will be used to plan integration of the University of Delaware's transit oriented development of the former Chrysler vehicle assembly plant, now owned by the University

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