·         Portal Bridge Project is funded for design engineering. NJT holds the contract. Two big bridges involved.

·         Amtrak can not commit to funding of the construction for the new three track Portal Bridge to the north.

·         NJT and Amtrak have met several times with no resolve.

·         Meetings with FRA have taken place as well.

·         Due to no resolve the construction staging and sequencing of the project was shifted in mid March to a build the south two track bridge first scenario, which is more costly, more disruptive to the NEC and increases design costs of the project due to rework.

·         Ultimately, going down this path is what it is, but seems to us with all the talk of HSR and all the NE governors aligned to grow and enhance the NEC, this is a simple one to commit to, for reliability and growth and trip time improvement.  The existing bridge is about 100 years old, it is still fairly reliable and capital spending keeps it in shape but for how long?  Capacity will not be an issue when the new south bridge is constructed first.