A broad statement of principles designed to
guide New York State and CSX Transportation, Inc. in establishing enhanced intercity and high-speed
passenger rail services has been signed, according to a news release from Governor
David A. Patterson. The agreement will allow the state to proceed with environmental
impact statements for projects on the 463-mile Empire Corridor between New York City and Buffalo and Niagara Falls, according to the release, and move toward
construction on $151 million in Federally funded stimulus projects that were announced
earlier this year.
"The state's agreements with CSXT are a
significant step toward bringing high speed passenger rail to New York on the Empire Corridor," the Governor said in the release.
"The deadlock has been broken allowing the program to go forward."
A Federal grant of $1 million from the
Federal Railroad Administration was also announced, and will be used to cover
about 20 percent of the estimated $4.5 million needed for the environmental
reviews. High-speed rail enhancements are designed to improve reliability and reduce
travel time of passenger rail service in New York, and the planning studies required for the projects
to move forward are expected to be complete by mid-2012, according to the
release.
