NORWICH – The County of Chenango Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) has been awarded $772,422 in funding from the New York State Department of Transportation to revitalize the Utica Main Line railroad.

The application, submitted in early November, sought $4,724,000 in funding from NYSDOT, which would have covered 90 percent of the cost to repair sections of the line that were damaged by floods in June 2006, and to replace deficient cross-ties where identified along the length of the line. The Utica Main Line’s operator, Cooperstown-based New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad (NYS&W), would be responsible for 10 percent, or nearly $525,000 of the total project cost.

The CCIDA will begin seeking additional funding commitments from federal and other sources as soon as possible to determine what portion of the original project budget can be completed, and on what timeline. Estimates for repairs to reopen the line (rather than restore it to Class II service) were approximately $1.7 million, which is a manageable first step towards the ultimate restoration of service at a higher Class II rating.