by nessman
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 6, 2005
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $100 MILLION FOR RAIL MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
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19 Railroads to Receive $40 Million in First Two Years of Five-Year Program That Will Assist With Infrastructure and Capacity Improvements to New York’s Rail System
Governor George E. Pataki today announced a five-year, $100 million rail funding program that will help New York railroads make infrastructure and capacity improvements, which will modernize the State’s rail network and keep it competitive. Known as the Rail Freight and Passenger Rail Assistance Program, the funding will provide approximately $20 million for improvements each year through 2010. In the first round of funding announced today, 19 railroads have been awarded $40 million for the 2005 – 2006 fiscal years.
“These critical investments to our rail infrastructure are an essential part of our commitment to making New York’s transportation and rail system the best in the nation,” Governor Pataki said. “Our improvements to freight and passenger rail service will ensure that businesses and commuters have a viable transportation alternative that will reduce heavy-truck traffic and vehicle congestion on our roadways, while improving our environment for future generations.”
Senator Thomas W. Libous, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee said, “Governor Pataki has again shown his commitment to improving New York’s infrastructure by creating the Rail Modernization Program. Making these needed enhancements to our Rail System is critical to enticing new businesses to come to New York and keeping existing ones here.”
Assembly Transportation Committee Chair David Gantt said, “The Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver, reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of New York's diverse and interdependent transportation network by advocating for, and joining with the Senate and Governor in adopting, a five year capital plan and bond act during the state budget deliberations. We are delighted that the vital rail portion of that plan, which will upgrade and modernize facilities across the state, is now moving forward.”
The Rail Freight and Passenger Rail Assistance Program, administered by the State Department of Transportation (DOT), is financed by a five-year, $17.9 billion capital program. The funds will be used for track and bridge improvements, grade crossing eliminations or upgrades, construction of intermodal facilities, and the provision of passenger service subsidies. Eligible railroads, including shortline and mainline railroads, will be able to apply for the $60 million available in the final three years of the program.
Norman Schneider, executive director of Railroads of New York (RONY) said, “Railroads of New York, which represents freight railroads throughout New York State, is pleased at the efforts of Governor Pataki and Commissioner Madison to provide this important rail funding. These funds will enable 19 of our members to make needed infrastructure improvements that will help move freight in an economically and environmentally efficient manner.”
In addition to these funds, the Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Bond Act, approved by New Yorkers on November 8th, provides $135 million for railroads and port facility improvements over the same five-year period, for a combined investment of $235 million.
The Rail Freight and Passenger Rail Assistance program will immediately help finance five projects affecting mainline railroads. These include:
$8.6 million to subsidize Amtrak’s Adirondack passenger service between the City of Rensselaer, Rensselaer County, and Montreal, Quebec;
$5.2 million to upgrade the signal system on the Metro North Commuter Railroad line between the City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, and New York City;
$4 million to expand freight capacity on the CSX Transportation River Line between the Hamlet of Selkirk, Albany County, and the Port of New York and New Jersey terminals in Staten Island and northern New Jersey;
$3.5 million for the Norfolk-Southern Railroad to fund preliminary engineering work for replacement of the Portage Bridge over Letchworth State Park on its Southern Tier mainline in Livingston County; and
$2.5 million to expand freight capacity on the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline between the City of Albany, Albany County, and Montreal, Quebec.
Shortline railroads receiving immediate assistance include:
$1.5 million for track and bridge rehabilitation on the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad in Oneida and Lewis counties;
$1.5 million for track rehabilitation on the New York and Ogdensburg Railroad in St. Lawrence County;
$1.5 million for track rehabilitation on the Rochester Southern Railroad in Wyoming and Monroe counties;
$1.4 million for track rehabilitation on the Finger Lakes Railroad in Cayuga and Seneca counties;
$1.25 million for track and bridge rehabilitation on the Owego and Harford Railroad in Tioga County;
$1.2 million for track rehabilitation on the Arcade and Attica Railroad in Wyoming County;
$1.2 million for construction of a rail/truck transfer facility for the Depew, Lancaster and Western Railroad in Genesee County;
$1.2 million for track rehabilitation on the Falls Road Railroad in Niagara and Orleans counties;
$1 million for track rehabilitation on the Battenkill Railroad in Washington County;
$1 million for track rehabilitation on the B&H Railroad in Steuben County;
$1 million for track rehabilitation on the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad in Monroe and Livingston counties;
$900,000 for track rehabilitation on the New York and Lake Erie Railroad in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties;
$750,000 for track rehabilitation on the Middletown and New Jersey Railroad in Orange County;
$500,000 for an additional track in the Harlem River Yard intermodal facility in the Bronx; and
$300,000 for grade crossing rehabilitation on the Buffalo Southern Railroad in Erie County.
New York has led the nation in railroad investment, providing approximately $248.7 million for rail capital projects since 1995. Investments have been focused on increasing rail access to New York City and Long Island, as well as expanding the capacity of New York’s upstate railroads to ensure that future freight increases can be absorbed by the rail industry, helping to reduce commercial vehicle traffic on state roadways.
Department of Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Madison, Jr. said, “Thanks to the efforts of Governor Pataki, New York State has the resources necessary to improve and expand upon our existing rail infrastructure, ensuring that it remains a viable transportation alternative for both businesses and travelers.”
December 6, 2005
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $100 MILLION FOR RAIL MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Railroads to Receive $40 Million in First Two Years of Five-Year Program That Will Assist With Infrastructure and Capacity Improvements to New York’s Rail System
Governor George E. Pataki today announced a five-year, $100 million rail funding program that will help New York railroads make infrastructure and capacity improvements, which will modernize the State’s rail network and keep it competitive. Known as the Rail Freight and Passenger Rail Assistance Program, the funding will provide approximately $20 million for improvements each year through 2010. In the first round of funding announced today, 19 railroads have been awarded $40 million for the 2005 – 2006 fiscal years.
“These critical investments to our rail infrastructure are an essential part of our commitment to making New York’s transportation and rail system the best in the nation,” Governor Pataki said. “Our improvements to freight and passenger rail service will ensure that businesses and commuters have a viable transportation alternative that will reduce heavy-truck traffic and vehicle congestion on our roadways, while improving our environment for future generations.”
Senator Thomas W. Libous, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee said, “Governor Pataki has again shown his commitment to improving New York’s infrastructure by creating the Rail Modernization Program. Making these needed enhancements to our Rail System is critical to enticing new businesses to come to New York and keeping existing ones here.”
Assembly Transportation Committee Chair David Gantt said, “The Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver, reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of New York's diverse and interdependent transportation network by advocating for, and joining with the Senate and Governor in adopting, a five year capital plan and bond act during the state budget deliberations. We are delighted that the vital rail portion of that plan, which will upgrade and modernize facilities across the state, is now moving forward.”
The Rail Freight and Passenger Rail Assistance Program, administered by the State Department of Transportation (DOT), is financed by a five-year, $17.9 billion capital program. The funds will be used for track and bridge improvements, grade crossing eliminations or upgrades, construction of intermodal facilities, and the provision of passenger service subsidies. Eligible railroads, including shortline and mainline railroads, will be able to apply for the $60 million available in the final three years of the program.
Norman Schneider, executive director of Railroads of New York (RONY) said, “Railroads of New York, which represents freight railroads throughout New York State, is pleased at the efforts of Governor Pataki and Commissioner Madison to provide this important rail funding. These funds will enable 19 of our members to make needed infrastructure improvements that will help move freight in an economically and environmentally efficient manner.”
In addition to these funds, the Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Bond Act, approved by New Yorkers on November 8th, provides $135 million for railroads and port facility improvements over the same five-year period, for a combined investment of $235 million.
The Rail Freight and Passenger Rail Assistance program will immediately help finance five projects affecting mainline railroads. These include:
$8.6 million to subsidize Amtrak’s Adirondack passenger service between the City of Rensselaer, Rensselaer County, and Montreal, Quebec;
$5.2 million to upgrade the signal system on the Metro North Commuter Railroad line between the City of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, and New York City;
$4 million to expand freight capacity on the CSX Transportation River Line between the Hamlet of Selkirk, Albany County, and the Port of New York and New Jersey terminals in Staten Island and northern New Jersey;
$3.5 million for the Norfolk-Southern Railroad to fund preliminary engineering work for replacement of the Portage Bridge over Letchworth State Park on its Southern Tier mainline in Livingston County; and
$2.5 million to expand freight capacity on the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline between the City of Albany, Albany County, and Montreal, Quebec.
Shortline railroads receiving immediate assistance include:
$1.5 million for track and bridge rehabilitation on the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad in Oneida and Lewis counties;
$1.5 million for track rehabilitation on the New York and Ogdensburg Railroad in St. Lawrence County;
$1.5 million for track rehabilitation on the Rochester Southern Railroad in Wyoming and Monroe counties;
$1.4 million for track rehabilitation on the Finger Lakes Railroad in Cayuga and Seneca counties;
$1.25 million for track and bridge rehabilitation on the Owego and Harford Railroad in Tioga County;
$1.2 million for track rehabilitation on the Arcade and Attica Railroad in Wyoming County;
$1.2 million for construction of a rail/truck transfer facility for the Depew, Lancaster and Western Railroad in Genesee County;
$1.2 million for track rehabilitation on the Falls Road Railroad in Niagara and Orleans counties;
$1 million for track rehabilitation on the Battenkill Railroad in Washington County;
$1 million for track rehabilitation on the B&H Railroad in Steuben County;
$1 million for track rehabilitation on the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad in Monroe and Livingston counties;
$900,000 for track rehabilitation on the New York and Lake Erie Railroad in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties;
$750,000 for track rehabilitation on the Middletown and New Jersey Railroad in Orange County;
$500,000 for an additional track in the Harlem River Yard intermodal facility in the Bronx; and
$300,000 for grade crossing rehabilitation on the Buffalo Southern Railroad in Erie County.
New York has led the nation in railroad investment, providing approximately $248.7 million for rail capital projects since 1995. Investments have been focused on increasing rail access to New York City and Long Island, as well as expanding the capacity of New York’s upstate railroads to ensure that future freight increases can be absorbed by the rail industry, helping to reduce commercial vehicle traffic on state roadways.
Department of Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Madison, Jr. said, “Thanks to the efforts of Governor Pataki, New York State has the resources necessary to improve and expand upon our existing rail infrastructure, ensuring that it remains a viable transportation alternative for both businesses and travelers.”
