Courtney Statement on Transfer of TIGER Grant Funding for New England Central Rail Upgrades

NORWICH—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) released the following statement on the transfer of more than $8 million in TIGER Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the state of Connecticut:

“The distribution of funding to the State Department of Transportation is a positive step forward in our ongoing efforts to streamline freight transportation throughout the region. After a long, sustained effort to secure federal TIGER Grant funding to upgrade the New England Central Rail, I will continue to work with the state, Genessee and Wyoming, and our local officials to ensure that the upgrade moves forward swiftly to strengthen the Port of New London and remove freight trucks from our highways,” Courtney said.

In addition to the $8,183,563 in federal funds, Gennessee and Wyoming will contribute $2,295,890, for a total of more than $10.4 million to upgrade the rail line to meet the 286,000-pound gross weight freight rail car national standard, improve transit times, and perform additional repair work. Last year, Congressman Courtney led a coalition of eastern Connecticut officials and business leaders in a successful effort to secure approval for the grant application from Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.