I worked very hard during the last year to convince the Obama Administration that making high speed rail investments in Western New York was smart. So I was excited this week to learn that President Obama will direct $151 million dollars for New York as a down-payment on a larger project to connect cities across the country with new modern rail.
This announcement in high-speed rail funding is a huge victory for New York. High-speed rail will bring thousands of new jobs to New York and it will connect Upstate to New York to Cleveland and Chicago to the west, to Toronto and Montreal to the north and make travel across the state much easier. In short this is good for New York's businesses, workers, universities, partners in trade, and it's good for the environment.
In Western New York, high-speed rail will strengthen bi-national trade with our Canadian neighbors, help our local universities and colleges recruit, all while conserving energy and improving environmental quality. It will also give passenger rail the dedicated third track they need to decrease travel time and avoid being sidetracked by freight rail.
I have been working hard, alongside other members of the Upstate Congressional Caucus, to secure funding for this initiative. This year's Consolidated Appropriations Act contains $4.595 million that will improve grade crossings and facilitate high-speed rail in Monroe, Genesee, Montgomery, Oneida and Wayne counties.
Today's announcement of $151 will go to projects across Upstate New York. Specifically:
$147 million will go to:
The installation of 10 miles of second track, interlocking reconfigurations and grade crossing warning device systems to eliminate an existing bottleneck and improve safety.
The preliminary engineering and environmental analysis for 11 miles of third track which will allow for high-speed passenger rail.
The Buffalo-Depew Station to upgrade its facilities.
The construction and repair of the Rochester Station.
Improvements to existing warning devices at 12 crossings.
$3 million for the final design and construction of 2.27 miles of third track mainline track used by Amtrak's state-supported Adirondack (Mew York-Montreal) and Ethan Allen Express (New York-Rutland, VT) services, which will improve the reliability and on-time performance of these services.
$1 million has been allocated to prepare a service development pan and environmental plan and environmental studies for high-speed rail enhancements throughout the Empire Corridor.
History has shown us that when we allow for greater movement of people and goods, economies grow. In New York we learned this with the Erie Canal. High-speed rail is the next revolution in transportation and New York is getting on board.
This is one of the most important things I've done in my career. It will have a lasting effect on our state and give every New Yorker the ability to enjoy more of what our state has to offer.
