Amtrak Will Launch First Round of Community Grants for B&P Tunnel Program March 23rd

B&P Tunnel Replacement Program

Amtrak

BALTIMORE - Amtrak says on March 23, it will begin accepting grant applications for projects along the Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore.

This is part of a $50 million phased investment occurring alongside major construction, says Amtrak. The Community Investment Program (CIP) is part of the larger B&P Tunnel Replacement Program. RT&S has reported previously on the project’s plan to replace the 150-year-old B&P Tunnel. The 1.4-mile long Baltimore & Potomac (B&P) Tunnel is Amtrak’s oldest tunnel. It connects Penn Station in Baltimore to Washington D.C. and currently “suffers from a variety of age-related issues such as excessive water infiltration, a deteriorating structure, and a sinking floor.”

The application period will open after publication of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on the Amtrak Grants Portal on March 23. Amtrak says qualified not-for-profit organizations or city/state government entities are encouraged to apply for funding to support projects located within 1/4 mile of the alignment as long as it qualifies under one of the six following investment categories: community development, parks and recreation, open space, workforce development, historic preservation, or transportation (within 1/4 mile of the Program alignment). To sign up for the contact list to be notified of when the application process opens, Amtrak encourages those interested to sign up at the link here.

CIP Geographic Eligibility Map

Additionally, Amtrak is seeking an organization to administer a $2.75 million historic preservation grant fund for projects in the Midtown Edmonson and Edmonson Avenue Historic Districts that will be funded via the CIP. Also, Amtrak says it will dedicate $5 million for the creation of a Workforce Hub to prepare Baltimore residents for job opportunities on the Program and the projects.

FRA Administrator David Fink said, “Amtrak’s B&P tunnel is a critical component of our ongoing efforts to improve the state of good repair along the Northeast Corridor. As FRA Administrator, I look forward to working with Amtrak to make sure these dollars are spent efficiently and that the project is completed on time.”

“The Community Investment Program is part of Amtrak’s commitment to mitigating construction impacts in the community as we deliver this critical infrastructure investment. We’ve also installed sound barriers, implemented noise and vibration monitoring, and deployed our outreach team to identify and address any issues that may arise. We will work diligently to administer the Community Investment Program effectively and efficiently,” says Amtrak Assistant Vice President Luigi Rosa.