ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has signed a $3.7 billion deal with Amtrak and CSX Transportation that officials say will break loose a major East Coast chokepoint and allow for a dramatic expansion of passenger and commuter rail.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg attended Tuesday’s signing ceremony at the Alexandria Amtrak station and said it is a preview of what can be accomplished if Congress passes a massive infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden is expected to unveil Wednesday.
The broad outline of Tuesday’s agreement was announced in December 2019, but took more than a year to formalize.
A key piece of the expansion is a new Long Bridge over the Potomac River dedicated to passenger rail.