NJ Transit commuters could see benefits from a bill proposed by U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to pump $6.6 billion over four years into Amtrak's aging infrastructure, which could repair or replace some of the signals, overhead wire and track issues blamed for delays.



The bill would add money to Amtrak's budget to fix some of the nagging NEC infrastructure problems, such as signal problems which caused 30 minute delays to Amtrak and NJ Transit trains as recently as Monday afternoon.



"This will help with the delays by improving signaling and the rail itself," Booker said at a Monday press conference at Newark Penn Station with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. "This will make somewhat of a difference and put resources in place for another (Hudson River) tunnel."

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The senate bill bill also would create a $570 million annual competitive grant program pool of money for commuter railroads on the NEC, such as NJ Transit, to apply for, for use on projects on the corridor, Booker said.

That money could be used for for Amtrak safety, track improvements, rail service and projects on the Northeast Corridor.



"This is also about local systems like NJ Transit which uses Amtrak lines to get hundreds of thousand of people to work," Menendez said. "Amtrak infrastructure is critical to NJ Transit. Booker's bill moves the ball forward."



The bill will help address catch-up on a backlog of unfunded infrastructure projects on the 457 mile long corridor, but won't eliminate decades of under funding, said Veronica Vanterpool, Tri-State Transportation Campaign executive director. She noted that while the house debated an unsuccessful attempt to add $1 billion to Amtrak's budget this year, China invested $123 billion in its rail infrastructure.



"We've seen the grave impact of under investment in projects such as positive train control and increasing delays du to deteriorating infrastructure," Vanderpool said.



The last rail passenger funding bill was passed in 2008 and expired in 2013, Booker said.



"There's been no update in seven years," he said. "This bill is an improvement of the status quo."



Menendez said the bill is a strong foundation that other future transit funding legislation can build on to continue to address the backlog of infrastructure projects that have been unfunded for decades..

Booker and Wicker delayed the legislation's introduction after the crash in Philadelphia, which killed eight people and sparked a debate in Congress over providing adequate funding for the nation's public works projects, including railroads.

Like the House legislation, the Senate proposal also directs more funding to the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak's most heavily traveled and profitable trains.

It provides grants and loans to install automatic speed control, which the National Transportation Safety Board said would have prevented the Philadelphia crash had it been in place along that stretch of track. It also would require other actions to address a train's speed.



The bill also would encourage development at rail stations and along railroad rights of way, including through private-sector partnerships; and speeding up government approval for permits and funding to improve tracks and other railroad infrastructure. It also would increase transparency and require deadlines for projects and streamline permitting processes for projects to save money.



The legislation would authorize spending a total of $6.6 billion a year for Amtrak, though the money would have to be approved in the separate transportation spending bill. The House authorized $5.8 billion over four years in March. Including separate grants, the Senate bill contains $8.9 billion and the House $7.2 billion for Amtrak.

The legislation would authorize Amtrak for the next four years at an average $1.65 billion a year. Additionally, $570 million in total grant funding would be made available every year. These competitive grants would go toward programs related to capital assistance, service enhancement and restoration, alleviating rail congestion, and improving the Northeast Corridor.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.