MONTPELIER, Vt. — Passenger rail projects in Maine and Vermont are going to be getting another financial boost from the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has $1.2 billion in stimulus funding that had been intended for high-speed rail projects in Wisconsin and Ohio. But those states don’t want to move forward with the projects.

So the money will be redirected to projects under way in 13 other states.

Maine is expected to get $3.3 million to help fully fund the $38.3 million cost of expanding Amtrak’s Downeaster from Portland to Brunswick.

In Vermont, up to $2.7 million will go to a $52.7 million project to upgrade the rail lines from Vernon to St. Albans, the route of the Amtrak Vermont.


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