Federal rail regulators are endorsing an ambitious and costly plan to rebuild the congested Northeast Corridor over the next 30 years.
They say it will shore up crumbling infrastructure, expand service and speed up travel, with some trains eventually able to reach 220 mph on part of the Washington-Boston route.
The Federal Railroad Administration plan, unveiled Friday, aims to cut delays and increase capacity by upgrading bridges and tunnels and realigning tracks to eliminate curves.
Among the recommendations are adding direct and frequent service to Hartford, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts.
The agency estimates the changes will cut travel times between Washington and New York by 35 minutes and save 45 minutes to an hour on trips between Boston and New York.
The FRA estimates it will cost around $120 billion. Now it's up to the states, railroads and President-elect Donald Trump to figure out if they're on board.
