$2.3 Billion for 105 Rail Projects, From a Toledo Bridge to Northern Maine. This Is Infrastructure You Can Measure
On Oct. 19, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced $2.3 billion for 105 freight and passenger rail projects in 45 states, matched by more than $1.9 billion from partners. In our view, fixing short lines, bridges and crossings is how infrastructure money should be spent.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 20, 2026 | 5-min read The railroads that matter most to small-town America are not the glamorous ones. They are the short lines that haul grain, lumber, chemicals and steel from the plant to the main line, often over bridges and track laid generations ago. On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced $2.3 billion for 105 rail projects in 45 states and the District of Columbia, with many of the highlighted projects aimed at those workhorse lines [1]. In our view, this is how federal infrastructure money should be spent: on real track, real bridges and real safety, with local partners paying their share. Key Takeaways DOT said the Federal Railroad Administration is investing $2.3 billion through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program in 105 projects across 45 states and D.C. [1]. More than 2,000 miles of track will see improvements, according to DOT [1]. Selected projects will also draw more than $1.9 billion in non-federal funding from state, local and private partners [1]. Examples include $43.5 million to rehabilitate the Toledo Swing