Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds Rail Transit Fleet Renewal

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $631 million in Rail Vehicle Replacement grants this week. These grants will go towards the purchase of new rail cars for transit systems in Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

"Millions of Americans use subways, commuter rail, and light rail every day, but many railcars are decades old and in need of replacement," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Through President Biden's infrastructure law, we're proud to deliver 300 new railcars to give Americans a safer, more comfortable, more reliable service on America’s rails."

This new transit program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as part of a broader effort to address aging U.S. transit infrastructure. A third of U.S. subway and commuter rail vehicles are more than 25 years old (while the average age of an Amtrak-owned or leased railcar is 35 years). Last year’s inaugural round of awards funded six fleet renewal projects in Sacramento, South Florida, Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, and Utah.

This program complies with the Buy America Act, which means at least 70% of these railcars will be made in the U.S. with final assembly completed domestically.