Federal Money Upgrades Vermonter Line
by
ASHLEY JOHNSON, WPTZ Channel 5
ashleyjohnson@hearst.com
ST. ALBANS, Vt. -- The largest rail project in Vermont since Amtrak was created kicked off Tuesday. It's improving the Vermonter Line that runs from St. Albans to Vernon.
The freight train carrying new tracks for the high-speed rail project made its way to St. Albans after state officials held a news conference.
"This is going to reduce the travel time from this part of Vermont to New York City for about an hour and a half," said
Gov. Jim Douglas.
The project is putting in new tracks along the 190 mile route. When its done, the
Amtrak Vermonter will travel up to 79 mph at certain parts. The $50 million federally funded project will also create jobs.
"There's about 25 people here in St. Albans right now assigned to this project," said
Charles Hunter from
Rail America Inc. "And there will be people here for two years so there will be a lot of jobs."
Douglas said he hopes to see even more jobs on rail projects in the future.
"We've received also a half-million dollar planning grant to look at the possibility of restoring service in the Manchester, Bennington area," Douglas said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders said he plans to see rail go even farther.
"Today if you want to go from St. Albans to Boston, you have to drive," Sanders said.
"We can do better than that."
It's something Sanders said he'll fight in Washington come Monday.
"Is whether we give tax breaks to billionaires or we invest in projects like this," Sanders said.
"Needless to say I say we invest in projects like this."
