At a decidedly low-speed press conference featuring over a dozen speakers, David Paterson and Chuck Schumer, with great fanfare, unveiled an updated state rail plan that calls for greater rail-freight use as well as high-speed passenger rail from Niagara Falls to New York City.
Paterson called the plan "honest and achievable," promising that with $3 billion of funding, the high-speed service (110 m.p.h.!) that upstaters have long lusted for could become reality within three to five years.
He likened the project's significance to the Erie Canal.
"We know what needs to be done," said Schumer. "We have the means to attack the mountain that was lack of money."
The means, of course, being the federal stimulus package.
The project is indeed, using the buzzword of the last few months, "shovel ready" and long overdue. A press release from the Governor's office fleshes out some details:
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.
Specifically, it calls for:
o Doubling the number of intercity rail passengers along New York's three major corridors: New York City to Albany, Albany to Niagara Falls and Albany to Montreal, as well as strategies to increase reliability on all three corridors;
o Providing frequent and convenient passenger rail service connecting cities across the State as an energy and time-saving alternative to driving or flying, helping to reduce congestion on highways and at airports. Rail plan goals include:
# Achieving on-time performance of at least 95 percent between Albany and New York City;
# Improving rail service between Albany and Niagara Falls, with connections in Utica, Syracuse and Rochester. The Plan includes a Third Track Initiative, which aims to establish a dedicated third track for high speed passenger rail service across Upstate from Niagara Falls to Albany with a potential for reducing the travel time by 2 hours or more;
# Shortening the travel time for rail service between Albany and Montreal. Currently, trains take about eight hours to make that trip. The Plan's goal is to reduce that time to 6.5 hours; and
# Establishing new passenger service, where viable, such as between Saratoga and Albany, Niagara Falls and Buffalo, and Binghamton and New York City;
o Increasing freight rail usage by 25 percent to reduce growth of truck traffic and energy consumption;
o Allowing modern freight cars to access the New York City metro area and Long Island along routes east of the Hudson River;
o Adding at least three new intermodal facilities/inland ports across the State to serve the rapidly growing container segment of rail traffic, which will help remove long-haul trucks from highways and deliver products to consumers faster; and
o Creating the first "green" short line fleet in the nation.
In addition to the Third Track Initiative, the Plan identifies a number of rail infrastructure initiatives that would strategically improve intercity passenger rail service across New York State. Estimated to cost $671 million over the next five years, these priority projects are expected to be eligible for federal funding assistance. These rail infrastructure improvements would be implemented in partnership with rail service providers.
In establishing goals for the future, New York State's 2009 Rail Plan makes clear the critical importance of a strong federal partnership in support of modern, efficient rail service. Historic federal legislation authorizing funding for intercity passenger rail was approved last year, making a State rail plan a condition of receiving federal rail funds. Since much of the rail system in New York is privately owned, the Plan also highlights the need for partnering with private railroads and other stakeholders to make infrastructure improvements that will make rail travel more attractive to consumers and the business community.
Rail service can be an important contributor to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Rail consumes less energy than most modes of long-distance travel and reduces congestion and vehicle emissions as well. A single intermodal freight train can carry hundreds of cargo containers, removing as many as 280 trucks from roadways while using significantly less energy than highway travel. Trains can move a ton of freight an average of 435 miles with each gallon of fuel. Furthermore, intercity passenger rail uses 20 percent less energy per passenger mile traveled than automobiles and 17 percent less than airline travel.
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.
Of course, the high speed rail provisions are but a portion of the overall plan, though I think it's the sexiest part. The entire plan can be read here. It's good stuff.
