The March 3 newspaper article in the Norwich Evening Sun did not mention that the consultant (TranSystems/Stone Consulting and Design of Warren, PA) estimated that it will cost $1,150,020 to repair the NYS&W Utica branch line in Chenango County. (Study, p. 128)
Also, the consultant made an interesting discovery not mentioned in the article:
"The other significant discovery during the bridge inspection function was to immediately document and re-estimate the NYSW damage claims, and verify that NYSW had not submitted a damage claim to FEMA that may have been eligible for payment had it been submitted in a timely manner. This is because the railroad property itself was controlled under public title (through the Chenango EDA) even if NYSW itself was a for-profit operator of the corridor and not eligible themselves. Chenango County's inquiry to FEMA disclosed that an application would still be accepted through the County if promptly completed and submitted; this effort was immediately done through this study program as a valid third-party engineering estimate." (Study, p. 114)
It is my understanding that Chenango County's application for repair funds to FEMA in 2008 missed the deadline. Perhaps the County will be able to obtain federal stimulus funding to repair the tracks.