Efforts to fund much-needed repairs to Amtrak's Southwest Chief line got an extra boost today as the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded 15.2 million dollars to the project.
Combined with matching funds, the grant, known as a TIGER grant, totals 24.5 million. Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace heads the state's Southwest Chief commission:
"Between TIGER VI and TIGER VII, we will have accomplished half of the immediate repairs," said Sal Pace, Pueblo County Commissioner and head of the state's Southwest Chief commission. "And BNSF has agreed to cover the annual maintenance on it."
The long-distance rail line travels through western Kansas, southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.
Pace says crossing the midway point means the commission can start putting more focus on bringing the Southwest Chief to Pueblo.
Check back with KRCC for more on this breaking news.
