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High-speed rail study for New York released
Feb 02, 2014 12:46 am
Dana Rubinstein in Capital New York reports that the Federal Railroad Administration's long-awaited study of high-speed rail in New York was released last week, outlining five options for a faster connection from New York City to Niagara Falls. Three days after he was elected governor in 2010, Gov. Andrew Cuomo wrote a letter to then-U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood asking him to give New York State the high-speed rail stimulus monies that other states appeared poised to reject, describing high-speed rail as "critical to building the foundation for future economic growth, especially Upstate." But despite the campaigning on the issue, and early action, Cuomo has done little since, and this study was due last June. Rubinstein reports that a state bill passed in 2010, requires the governor and legislature to appoint a "temporary high-speed rail planning board" within the state transportation department "to advise the Department on the implementation of a high speed rail system for the State." "The high-speed rail planning board has not met under my tenure," said state transportation commissioner Joan McDonald. "I don't believe all of the members have been appointed." The law authorizing its creation has since expired. 
The study suggests five options for improvements to the now eight-hour trip from New York City to Niagara Falls. The most expensive would cut the time to under six hours. Six public hearings will be held statewide to present the Tier 1 Draft EIS and receive public comments, including a March 4 Albany meeting (see below for complete list).
Read the full story in Capital New York.
• Tuesday, March 4, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. Albany Nanotech Complex, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203
• Wednesday, March 5, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. NBT Bank Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse, NY 13208
• Thursday, March 6, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. The Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum, 263 Michigan Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14203
• Friday, March 7, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. National Museum of Play at the Strong, One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607
• Tuesday, March 11, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. Utica Union Station, 321 Main Street, Utica, NY 13501
• Wednesday, March 12, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 9 & 12 Vassar Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
The study suggests five options for improvements to the now eight-hour trip from New York City to Niagara Falls. The most expensive would cut the time to under six hours. Six public hearings will be held statewide to present the Tier 1 Draft EIS and receive public comments, including a March 4 Albany meeting (see below for complete list).Read the full story in Capital New York.
• Tuesday, March 4, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. Albany Nanotech Complex, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203
• Wednesday, March 5, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. NBT Bank Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse, NY 13208
• Thursday, March 6, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. The Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum, 263 Michigan Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14203
• Friday, March 7, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. National Museum of Play at the Strong, One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY 14607
• Tuesday, March 11, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. Utica Union Station, 321 Main Street, Utica, NY 13501
• Wednesday, March 12, 2014; Open House 4-6 p.m. and Public Hearing 6-8 p.m. Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 9 & 12 Vassar Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601