Governor David A. Paterson and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced the release of the 2009 New York State Rail Plan, providing the first comprehensive update of the State’s rail strategy in 22 years and fulfilling a prerequisite for federal funding for rail capital improvement projects. The announcement was made at the Capital District Transportation Authority’s (CDTA) Rensselaer train station.

“Rail transportation is critical to efficiently moving people and goods throughout New York State,” Governor David A. Paterson said. “With the 2009 New York State Rail Plan, we are charting a course for the future. We have prioritized investments to improve intercity passenger rail service and strengthen our freight rail system, while helping to promote the State’s economy and protect the environment by reducing energy use, emissions and congestion on our highways and runways.”

The 2009 New York State Rail Plan spells out a comprehensive strategy for supporting freight and intercity passenger rail service. It calls for expanding freight rail usage and increasing the speed and reliability of passenger rail service across the State. Improved passenger and freight rail service supports energy and environmental goals by moving people and goods more efficiently and taking vehicles off congested roadways.

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.

(YWN Desk – NYC)