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FTA 51-04
Contact: Melissa Sabatine, Tel.: (202) 366-4043
Email:
Melissa.Sabatine@fta.dot.gov
Monday, October 04, 2004
Secretary Mineta Announces $13.6 Million For Expanded Rail Service In South
Florida
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced a $13.6 million
grant to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) to help pay
for rail improvements along the 71.7 -mile corridor connecting Palm Beach,
Broward and Miami-Dade counties in South Florida.
“Today’s investment demonstrates the Bush Administration’s dedication to provide
hardworking Americans with the transit services they need to access jobs and
keep the economy moving,” said Secretary Mineta. “These transit improvements
will help promote a stronger economy by linking more commuters to a growing
number of jobs and stimulating more businesses throughout the rail corridor in
Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.”
The $13.6 million federal investment will help fund SFRTA’s Double Track
Corridor Improvement Program Segment 5. The 43.3 mile project includes
installing a second set of rail tracks, expanding rail stations, building 11 new
bridges and five replacement bridges, and modernizing grade crossing and signal
systems.
The expansion will result in more frequent train service during the week and
later service in the evenings. Ridership is expected to triple to almost 28,000
commuters per day by 2015. Construction is expected to be completed by December
2005. Since work on the rail system began in 1995, the federal government has
invested $94.9 million in the project.
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