NORWICH – The Chenango County Industrial Development Agency took another step last week in the long process of trying to revitalize the New York Susquehanna and Western Railway through the towns of Greene, Oxford, Norwich and North Norwich to Sherburne.

The agency adopted a resolution declaring that restoring the tracks for transit service would not have any significant, adverse environmental impact. The move is required by law in order to accept state transportation funding and also to apply for a federal economic development grant for disaster areas.

The project will require no substantial changes to existing structures nor facilities, the resolution states. IDA Counsel James Downey recommended that the agency send notification to all involved townships and other parties along the right-of-way that their will be no new construction outside of the existing footprint of the line.

New York State Department Of Transportation’s funding for 12 miles was previously granted. Commerce Chenango Economic Development Director Jennifer Tavares said the IDA will leverage the DOT miles to achieve 80 percent of the federal funding needed for the overall project. In this way, the entire 45.54 miles of track through may be restored to service.