GARY, IN — The Trump Administration announces a total of $400 million in federal funding will be allocated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to four transit infrastructure projects. The projects are advancing toward readiness to receive a Full Funding Grant Agreement under FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. The projects must meet additional requirements in law before a grant can be awarded.

"This $400 million federal investment will help ensure that critical updates can be made to our country's public transit systems so they remain safe and operational," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

"These critical rail transit infrastructure projects will help communities improve transit service as they continue to address the impacts of COVID-19 and recover from this public health emergency," said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams.

The CIG Program provides funding for major transit infrastructure capital investments nationwide. Projects accepted into the program must go through a multi-year, multi-step process according to requirements in law to be eligible for consideration to receive program funds.

Gary, Indiana: Double Track Northwest Indiana Project - The Gary Double Track Northwest Indiana Project is a New Starts project in the engineering phase of the CIG program. The project is a 26.6-mile second track on the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District South Shore commuter rail line in northern Indiana between Gary and Michigan City. FTA is allocating $50.6 million in FY 2020 CIG funds to the project.