The
announcement that New
York would
receive $151 million in Federal funding to address needed track upgrade projects
and Amtrak station improvements has been well received by transit advocates in
the state. The disparity between New York's share and that of Florida, however, which received $1.2 billion for its
high-speed corridor between Tampa
and Orlando, has attracted the attention of editorial writers
here. California was awarded $2.34 billion, part a nationwide pool $8
billion in rail-related funding.
Much
of New York's funding will be spent in the Capital region,
according to a story in the Times Union, which reported $90 million will
go for a second track and signal improvements between Albany and Schenectady. That section has been a long-standing source of
delays routinely affecting on time performance on Amtrak trains heading or
returning from Western New
York.
Empire
State Passengers Association president Bruce Becker said he hoped New York would get additional funding from $2.5 billion yet
to be awarded, according to the paper. "We're thankful for the money New York State is receiving, but we're disappointed it's not more," he said.
Read
the entire Times Union article at:
