Federal Funding Secured for Massachusetts West-East Rail Project

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has secured 3.5 million USD in federal funding to support the next phase of plans for West-East Rail, a proposed passenger service linking Boston and Albany, New York.

The award comes through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Programme (Corridor ID). The money will fund the preparation of a Service Development Plan (SDP) for the Boston–Albany Corridor.

The SDP will assess the feasibility of operating an intercity passenger rail service along the route and will set out how it could be delivered. This includes identifying infrastructure requirements, operational plans, governance arrangements, and the financial implications of the project. The process will also involve consultation with the public and local stakeholders.

Governor Maura Healey said:

We are full steam ahead on building West-East Rail, and this latest federal funding win brings us one step closer to delivering this for Massachusetts. I’m grateful for the hard work of our MassDOT team to secure this funding. Together, we’re going to expand rail service across the state to improve commutes, reduce congestion and usher in new housing and economic development opportunities.

The funding builds on earlier federal support for rail development in the state. In 2023, Massachusetts secured 108 million USD for infrastructure improvements to increase passenger services between Boston and New Haven, Connecticut, via Springfield. A further 37 million USD was awarded in 2024 for design work on track, signal, and infrastructure changes around Springfield Union Station. These projects are part of the broader Compass Rail vision, which aims to expand intercity passenger rail services across the state.

Under Compass Rail, existing Amtrak-supported services include the Vermonter, the Valley Flyer, the Hartford Line, the Northeast Regional, and the seasonal Berkshire Flyer. West-East Rail would add new services, improving east–west links within Massachusetts and enhancing regional connections.