Amtrak will begin accepting applications on March 23 for a $50 million grant program to fund eligible construction projects by the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel alignment in Baltimore.
The Community Investment Program (CIP) is a key component of the overall B&P Tunnel Replacement Program, which involves replacing a more-than-150-year-old tunnel with a new rail alignment and modern tunnel.
When the Notice of Funding Opportunity on the Amtrak Grants Portal opens, qualified not-for-profit organizations or city/state government entities will be encouraged to apply for funding to support projects located within a quarter mile of the new rail alignment under one of six investment categories: community development, parks and recreation, open space, transportation, workforce development or historic preservation.
Additional funding opportunities through the CIP include a $2.75 million historic preservation grant fund for an organization to administer preservation projects in the Midtown Edmondson and Edmondson Avenue Historic Districts. Amtrak will select the fund administrator based on merit and eligibility via a competitive process.
Amtrak is also dedicating $5 million to create a workforce hub to prepare Baltimore residents for job opportunities on the rail program and other regional projects. Amtrak has partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and Maryland Philanthropic Network to provide training, mentoring, and other services to prepare participants for construction careers.
The existing B&P Tunnel in Baltimore is the oldest Amtrak tunnel and a single point of failure for the 15 million Amtrak and MARC customers who rely on it. The 1.4-mile tunnel opened in 1873 and suffers from a variety of age-related issues, leading to frequent delays and extensive maintenance needs.
Photo by Johannes Plenio from Pexels
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