Arcuri says rail is key to redeveloping upstate
NORWICH – The $8 billion in federal stimulus money President Barack Obama has earmarked for investments in high speed rail could positively impact our local area, according to Congressman Michael Arcuri.
“I think high speed rail will be as important to the re-development of upstate New York as the Erie Canal (once was),” he said at a town hall-style meeting held yesterday at the Norwich Fire Department.
Critics of the president’s high speed rail initiative point out there is no real monetary savings, but Arcuri maintains there are benefits, including that it employs cleaner technology and is much faster than traditional rail.
Ten corridors have been designated as a part of the president’s plan, including the Empire Corridor which would stretch from New York to Niagara Falls, passing through Albany, Utica, Syracuse and Rochester.
“If I get my way, we’ll get the line from Utica down through Binghamton ... connected,” Arcuri said, referring to the Utica Branch Line of the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad which cuts through Chenango County.
Making that connection, however, hinges on the rehabilitation of the existing rail corridor. Roughly 41 miles of the line has been out of service since it was damaged by flooding in 2006. The railroad filed paperwork in 2008 to formally discontinue service on that portion of track, most of which lies in Chenango County.
“I think the rail is the future,” said Arcuri. The congressman said he is working to secure $750,000 in congressional funding for upgrades to the Utica Branch Line in next year’s budget.
While short of the $1.5 in federal appropriations Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter said has been requested on behalf of Chenango County, it will still make a difference.
“We would be very please to receive any financial assistance that would help us toward getting the line functional again,” said Carpenter, whose organization has spearheaded the efforts to restore rail service to Chenango County.
Arcuri, who has long been involved in the Route 12 improvement process, said that moving freight on the rail line would “put less stress” on it and other local roads. He warned, however, that focusing attention and funding on the rail line may shift focus away from Route 12 in the long-term.
“We may need to choose one over the other,” the congressman said.
“I think high speed rail will be as important to the re-development of upstate New York as the Erie Canal (once was),” he said at a town hall-style meeting held yesterday at the Norwich Fire Department.
Critics of the president’s high speed rail initiative point out there is no real monetary savings, but Arcuri maintains there are benefits, including that it employs cleaner technology and is much faster than traditional rail.
Ten corridors have been designated as a part of the president’s plan, including the Empire Corridor which would stretch from New York to Niagara Falls, passing through Albany, Utica, Syracuse and Rochester.
“If I get my way, we’ll get the line from Utica down through Binghamton ... connected,” Arcuri said, referring to the Utica Branch Line of the New York Susquehanna & Western Railroad which cuts through Chenango County.
Making that connection, however, hinges on the rehabilitation of the existing rail corridor. Roughly 41 miles of the line has been out of service since it was damaged by flooding in 2006. The railroad filed paperwork in 2008 to formally discontinue service on that portion of track, most of which lies in Chenango County.
“I think the rail is the future,” said Arcuri. The congressman said he is working to secure $750,000 in congressional funding for upgrades to the Utica Branch Line in next year’s budget.
While short of the $1.5 in federal appropriations Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter said has been requested on behalf of Chenango County, it will still make a difference.
“We would be very please to receive any financial assistance that would help us toward getting the line functional again,” said Carpenter, whose organization has spearheaded the efforts to restore rail service to Chenango County.
Arcuri, who has long been involved in the Route 12 improvement process, said that moving freight on the rail line would “put less stress” on it and other local roads. He warned, however, that focusing attention and funding on the rail line may shift focus away from Route 12 in the long-term.
“We may need to choose one over the other,” the congressman said.
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