New York awards funding to 12 rail projects

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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New York State awarded $17.8 million in funding from the State's Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program to 12 rail projects that will repair and replace 65 miles of track and ties, rehabilitate grade crossings and bridges and construct new connections to improve safety and operations.

 

“New York remains a vital transportation hub, as well as a tourism destination and this funding will help ensure travel to and in this state is safer, more convenient and more reliable,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “By investing in our transportation infrastructure, we are making long term improvements to our rail and aviation systems in order to better serve the people who use them, while also expanding economic opportunities throughout New York.”

The funding being allocated is included in the state’s 2014-15 budget. The projects that received the funding were selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated on established criteria, including project eligibility, consistency with state plans, regional economic benefits and the ability to leverage additional investments.

In the North Country/Mohawk Valley region, Adirondack Railway Preservation Society of Utica received $791,000 to construct a maintenance and repair facility in Utica for the Adirondack Scenic Railroad and Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad Corp. of Batavia received $567,000 to repair culverts and bridges on the Lyons Falls and Rome Branch lines. Two rail crossings also will be rehabilitated.

In the Mid-Hudson Region, Middletown & New Jersey Railroad LLC of Kennett Square, Pa., received $1.9 million to rehabilitate railroad track in Orange County.

In Central New York, Syracuse, Binghamton and New York Railroad Corp. of Cooperstown received $262,600 for rehabilitating the Renwick Avenue Bridge and New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad Co. of Cooperstown received $2.3 million for improving rails, ties and surfacing.

In the Finger Lakes and Western New York area, Depew, Lancaster & Western Railroad Co. of Batavia received $145,000 to extend the Batavia engine house to accommodate a second locomotive and add paving and security to the transload warehouse; Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad Corporation of Lakeville in Livingston County received $707,658 to replace the Spring Street railroad bridge in Avon, Livingston County; Falls Road Railroad Co. of Batavia received $466,000 to repair culverts and bridges in Monroe, Orleans and Niagara counties; Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Steuben South Tier Extension Railroad Authority of Salamanca received $1.9 million to rehabilitate railroad track in Cattaraugus County and Norfolk Southern Railway of received $3.3 million to construct new connections and double track to improve operations at the Bison Yard in Buffalo.

In the Southern Tier region, Central New York Railroad of Cooperstown received $3.1 million to rehabilitate railroad track in Delaware and Broome counties.

In New York City, Long Island Rail Road received $2.3 million to rehabilitate the Cypress Avenue railroad bridge.

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