United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was in Cincinnati on Friday, hailing a “golden age of rail” while announcing a multi-billion-dollar investment in trains across the country.
Duffy spoke at Union Terminal on Friday, which he called one of the last great train stations in the country.
He announced a $5 billion investment into the country’s rail system, saying the money will be used across three phases.
Duffy said the department will close 30-grade crossings and upgrade another 1,000, which he said will improve safety in the U.S.
He also said 43 new trains will be bought to replace Amtrak’s older machines, along with the overhaul of 41 trains that serve the Midwest and the Pacific.
For Cincinnati, specifically, Duffy said there is a $40 million grant, which will close two highway crossings in Fairfield that Duffy called problem areas.
“Instead of wasting billions of dollars on a train to nowhere, we are fixing thousands of grade crossings – saving lives and improving communities across America. We’re also making an unprecedented investment in Amtrak because President Trump and I are committed to making passenger rail in America great again,” Duffy said.
WLWT asked about the timeline of the projects and when they would begin, but Duffy didn’t have a specific date yet. He praised Ohio for delivering rail projects on time and on budget.
