News from New York State Department of Transportation

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State to Fund $22M for Higher-Speed Rail Program

Spitzer, DOT Commissioner Glynn Announce ‘Major New Initiative’

ALBANY, NY (09/05/2007; 1717)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid Glynn today announced a $22 million program as a first step in bringing reliable, higher-speed rail service to New Yorkers throughout the state.

The funding would provide $4 million for rock slope stabilization near the George Washington Bridge. Other initial investments under the program are expected to extend the existing platforms and canopies and construct a fourth track and related signal work at the Albany-Rensselaer Station and reconfigure the Hudson Station.

“The state is committed to building a modern, efficient higher-speed rail system,” Spitzer said. “A higher-speed, more efficient rail system is a critical component to connecting our communities for tourism and economic development purposes.”

“Reliable, higher-speed rail is an important component of a multi-modal transportation network geared to meeting the mobility needs of New Yorkers and the demands of a growing economy in the 21st century,” Glynn said. “The state Department of Transportation welcomes the challenge of leading this endeavor. Together, we have already made more progress in one month than in all of the past year.”

In addition, today an initial meeting was taking place on a critical study into issues of “unity of control.” That analysis will seek to optimize both freight and passenger service by the four rail operators -- CSX, Canadian Pacific, Metro-North and Amtrak – in the important New York-to-Albany corridor.

The higher-speed rail plans also would establish a working group, led by NYSDOT and comprised of the Capital District Transportation District, the Senate High-Speed Rail Task Force and the four railroad operators, to advise the NYSDOT in developing a higher-speed system that provides a clear public benefit through improved on-time performance, increased frequency of service and reduced travel time.

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