Massachusetts awarded $72.8 million to cut travel times on Vermonter

Travel time on Amtrak's Vermonter line will be cut by nearly 30 minutes through a $72.8 million federal grant to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The project will restore a rail line, improving 50 miles of track and infrastructure on a direct route from Springfield to East Northfield, Mass., along the Connecticut River Valley. "Coupled with previous federal investments along the Vermonter line, these improvements will bring almost a one hour reduction in travel time for passengers traveling in Vermont and Massachusetts," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The Vermonter line operates between St. Albans, Vt., and Washington, D.C. and had a 16 percent ridership increase in 2010. Progress on the service began last year with a $50 million grant to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, improving 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon, shaving 30 minutes off of travel time within Vermont. Long-term, the investments in Vermont and Massachusetts will also increase reliability and for future expansion of service in Montreal, Quebec.