LANGHORNE, PA – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) hosted Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner in Bucks County this afternoon to recognize the critical impact of federal infrastructure funding and to observe ongoing safety and restoration efforts at the Randall Avenue Bridge.
At the Amtrak Training Facility in Morrisville, Congressman Fitzpatrick and Mr. Gardner celebrated an $8.8 million grant Amtrak received in September 2023. These funds, made available by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, will be used to implement a pilot engineering track foremen and inspectors apprenticeship program. This workforce development initiative will offer new knowledge, as well as mentorship and mobility opportunities, for employees. Recognizing there may not be an adequate number of seasoned, highly skilled employees providing knowledge transfer and mentorship, the project will support the development of a comprehensive training requirement for new employees and help provide upward mobility for current employees.
In Bristol Township, Congressman Fitzpatrick and Mr. Gardner were provided an update on the township’s efforts to maintain the structural integrity of the Randall Avenue Bridge in the near-term while considering future rehabilitation or reconstruction options. The township-owned bridge closed in February 2023 after concrete and debris fell from the underside of the structure onto the Amtrak and SEPTA tracks below.
“Amtrak is an important carrier, employer, and economic partner for Bucks and Montgomery Counties,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “I am grateful to Mr. Gardner for taking the time to visit PA-1 and engage with local officials, as well as to highlight the successes of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. I look forward to continuing to support passenger rail and transit programs in Congress to ensure that Amtrak and SEPTA have the resources they need to keep our community moving.”
"I appreciated the opportunity to tour these two important sites today with Congressman Fitzpatrick. Amtrak is grateful for this grant funding to support our apprenticeship program,” said Amtrak CEO, Stephen Gardner. “This will drive economic development for the region and help create a pipeline of skilled workers for future rail operations. Additionally, I was able to tour the Randall Ave Bridge in Bristol Township today to see firsthand the need for improvements. While Amtrak does not own or maintain the bridge, we are fully onboard to demonstrate our support as a good community partner during this process.”
In the 117th Congress, Congressman Fitzpatrick led the effort to pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act through Congress. Through his leadership as co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and in partnership with Senators on both sides of the aisle, the Congressman worked to create commonsense legislation that will have an immeasurable impact on our national security, our economy, and our communities for generations to come. You can learn more about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act here.
The purpose of the CRISI Program is to invest in a wide range of projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger and freight rail chokepoints to support the more efficient movement of both people and goods; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors. The CRISI Program is authorized by 49 U.S.C. § 22907, and funds were made available by Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Div. L Tit. I, Pub. L. 117-03 (March 15, 2022) (2022 Appropriation), and Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Pub. L. 117-58 (November 15, 2021).