BOISE – The City of Boise has been awarded $503,125 through the U.S. Department of Transportation to assist with planning for restored intercity passenger rail service in Boise. The grant will allow the city to develop a comprehensive funding and financing strategy for future passenger rail opportunities. The effort will also examine opportunities surrounding the historic Boise Depot and other station-area investments.
"Boiseans have made clear they want to bring passenger rail back to get around the Treasure Valley and across the West," said Mayor McLean. "This grant helps bring us one step closer to doing just that."
As conversations continue at the state, regional, and federal levels about restoring intercity passenger rail throughout the West, this funding will help the City of Boise better understand the financial tools, public-private partnerships, and investment strategies needed to support future service.
The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Innovative Financing and Asset Concessions Program, which was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021. This program helps communities explore creative financing approaches for transportation infrastructure projects. Boise was one of several communities nationwide selected to receive funding through the program, which awarded nearly $47 million to transportation projects across the country.