BALTIMORE — Amtrak will begin accepting applications for community grants related to its Frederick Douglass Tunnel project in Baltimore on March 23.
The Community Investment Program is part of a $50 million Amtrak investment that will concide with the major infrastructure project. It will be open to nonprofit organizations and government entities within a quarter-mile of the project alignment that qualify in one of six categories: community development, parks and recreation, open space, workforce development, historic preservation, and transportation (within one-half mile of the program alignment).
“The Community Investment Program is part of Amtrak’s commitment to mitigating construction impacts in the community as we deliver this critical infrastructure investment,” Luigi Rosa, Amtrak assistant vice president for the tunnel project, said in a press release. “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.”
The application period will open following the publication of a Notice of Funding Opportunity at the Amtrak Grants portal on March 23.
The Frederick Douglass Tunnel will replace the B&P Tunnel, which dates to 1873 and is a major bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor because of its slow operating speeds. The approximately $6 billion project involves construction of two single-track, 2-mile tunnels to replace the existing bore, which has a 30-mph speed restriction because of its tight curves. [See “Amtrak selects builder ….,” Trains.com, Feb. 6, 2024].
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