New York Governor Hochul announces $76.4 million in freight rail infrastructure investments

Governor Hochul announces $76.4 million in rail freight investments.

Trent Reeves/MTA Construction & Development

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $76.4 million in funding for 38 projects to renew and modernize New York’s freight rail infrastructure.

These 100 percent State funded grants complement the more than $100 million annually in private infrastructure investments made in New York by the freight rail industry. Strategic investments in freight rail improvements are essential for maintaining and enhancing market access for manufacturing and agricultural businesses across the State, including Alcoa in the North Country Region, Corning in the Southern Tier Region, and Lackawanna Products in the Western New York Region.

“The infrastructure projects funded with these grants will further fuel our economic comeback with new construction jobs, while making regional economies more competitive in the long term and enhancing the movement of commodities in an environmentally sustainable way,” said Governor Hochul. “As New York leads the nation in its efforts to combat climate change, we will continue to prioritize funding for initiatives that promote economic growth in a responsible manner while mitigating threats to our environment.”

The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program, administered by the New York State Department of Transportation, supports investments that enhance the safe movement of freight goods, improves service reliability to retain and grow manufacturing jobs, and supports economic development, especially upstate. Today’s announcement provides funding for track and bridge rehabilitation, capacity expansion, procurement of cleaner rail equipment, and the modernization and expansion of rail infrastructure in freight yards and at seaport facilities.

Today’s strategic investments in freight rail also serve to support New York’s nation leading climate goals. Freight rail has proven to be one the most fuel-efficient methods for moving commerce and is more than three-times more efficient compared to goods movement by truck. A single freight rail train removes several hundred trucks from our roadways, mitigating congestion and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

A full list of awarded of the projects by region is available here.