Rail Plan is a Critical First Step for Federal Funding for Passenger and Freight Rail Improvements
Rail Improvements will Increase Speed and Reliability, Help Protect the Environment
Governor David A. Paterson and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced the release of the 2009 New York State Rail Plan, providing the first comprehensive update of the State’s rail strategy in 22 years and fulfilling a prerequisite for federal funding for rail capital improvement projects. The announcement was made at the Capital District Transportation Authority’s (CDTA) Rensselaer train station.
“Rail transportation is critical to efficiently moving people and goods throughout New York State,” Governor David A. Paterson said. “With the 2009 New York State Rail Plan, we are charting a course for the future. We have prioritized investments to improve intercity passenger rail service and strengthen our freight rail system, while helping to promote the State’s economy and protect the environment by reducing energy use, emissions and congestion on our highways and runways.”
Commissioner Glynn said, “The State Rail Plan provides a contemporary blueprint for managing and improving New York’s railroad infrastructure, an integral part of our transportation network of highways, bridges, transit systems, ports and airports. This far-reaching plan outlines how to utilize existing resources most efficiently and positions us to improve mobility and connectivity across the State by creating a network that makes moving people and goods on rail a truly viable alternative.”
The 2009 New York State Rail Plan spells out a comprehensive strategy for supporting freight and intercity passenger rail service. It calls for expanding freight rail usage and increasing the speed and reliability of passenger rail service across the State. Improved passenger and freight rail service supports energy and environmental goals by moving people and goods more efficiently and taking vehicles off congested roadways.
The Plan presents an inventory of freight and passenger rail system infrastructure needs in New York State totaling more than $10.7 billion during the next 20 years. The Plan also presents trends in rail freight and passenger use and was the focus of considerable public review, including a 45-day public comment period and public workshops held last summer in Buffalo, Binghamton and New York City.
The Plan outlines priorities for funding consideration from the $9.3 billion dedicated for Intercity Rail in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the reauthorization of the Federal Surface Transportation Act which is due October 1, 2009 and for the development of the next State transportation plan, which will succeed the current plan following the 2009-10 State Fiscal Year.
The Rail Plan is the product of collaboration between public agencies, elected officials, planners, Amtrak and New York’s privately owned freight railroads. This effort included an extensive outreach program including daylong, interactive, public workshops to obtain direct input and comments from transportation advocacy organizations, rail industry stakeholders and the public. This approach was aimed at maximizing the Plan’s benefits for all New Yorkers and ensuring that proposed rail capital and service improvements are consistent with public needs.
State Senator William Stachowski said: “I think high speed rail can serve as another important tool in the effort to grow the Upstate economy.”
