$4.7 million in grant funding approved as railroad restoration moves forward
NORWICH – Efforts to restore the railroad that spans Chenango County took another big step forward Wednesday with a resolution of the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) to accept grant funds that will likely lead to trains running through the area again by 2014.
A special meeting of the CCIDA was called Wednesday to vote on acceptance of grant funding from the Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) in the amount of $4.7 million to repair the 45.54 miles of the Utica Main Line, operated by the New York Susquehanna and Western Railway Corporation (NYS&W), that runs from the southern end of Greene to the northern end of Sherburne.
According to officials, grant funds from the EDA will cover 80 percent of the cost of the restoration project, currently estimated at $5.897 million. EDA funding supplements additional grants awarded to the CCIDA in 2011 from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) in the amount of $772,422. Remaining costs of $407,080 will be footed by private and local agencies: $58,755 from the CCIDA; $112,500 from the Development Chenango Corporation; $150,000 from Chenango County government; and $85,825 from NYS&W.
Said CCIDA Chair Eric Larson, “After a long period of careful deliberation, the Chenango County IDA is pleased to be part of returning rail service to Chenango County. The investment of federal dollars is an important opportunity to move our area forward. We believe the railroad can be an important resource to both existing and potential new businesses throughout the county and we look forward to working with all the parties involved to ensure the successful implementation of this project.”
The battle for funding was preceeded by legal footwork of the CCIDA to ensure labor negotiations would run smoothly throughout the restoration project. The CCIDA has been working with NYS&W and different engineering firms in hopes of having work completed by 2014.
Additionally, the CCIDA has renewed a PILOT agreement with NYS&W for another ten years. The CCIDA currently holds title to the line through that agreement.
“Our economic development team has worked tirelessly towards the restoration and revitalization of this crucial piece of infrastructure over the last several years,” said DCC Director Jennifer Tavares. “We are very excited that this project will be moving forward, and look forward to working closely with NYS&W to develop new opportunities along the line.”
The Utica Main Line has been out of service since flooding severely damaged it in 2006. Flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 further damaged the line, though all of the damage has been exclusively within the perimeters of Chenango County, not in neighboring Broome and Madison counties. The DCC said it will work with local businesses that once utilized the rail to transport goods, as well as new corporations that have been established in the area since the railroad was rendered inoperable.
A special meeting of the CCIDA was called Wednesday to vote on acceptance of grant funding from the Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) in the amount of $4.7 million to repair the 45.54 miles of the Utica Main Line, operated by the New York Susquehanna and Western Railway Corporation (NYS&W), that runs from the southern end of Greene to the northern end of Sherburne.
According to officials, grant funds from the EDA will cover 80 percent of the cost of the restoration project, currently estimated at $5.897 million. EDA funding supplements additional grants awarded to the CCIDA in 2011 from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) in the amount of $772,422. Remaining costs of $407,080 will be footed by private and local agencies: $58,755 from the CCIDA; $112,500 from the Development Chenango Corporation; $150,000 from Chenango County government; and $85,825 from NYS&W.
Said CCIDA Chair Eric Larson, “After a long period of careful deliberation, the Chenango County IDA is pleased to be part of returning rail service to Chenango County. The investment of federal dollars is an important opportunity to move our area forward. We believe the railroad can be an important resource to both existing and potential new businesses throughout the county and we look forward to working with all the parties involved to ensure the successful implementation of this project.”
The battle for funding was preceeded by legal footwork of the CCIDA to ensure labor negotiations would run smoothly throughout the restoration project. The CCIDA has been working with NYS&W and different engineering firms in hopes of having work completed by 2014.
Additionally, the CCIDA has renewed a PILOT agreement with NYS&W for another ten years. The CCIDA currently holds title to the line through that agreement.
“Our economic development team has worked tirelessly towards the restoration and revitalization of this crucial piece of infrastructure over the last several years,” said DCC Director Jennifer Tavares. “We are very excited that this project will be moving forward, and look forward to working closely with NYS&W to develop new opportunities along the line.”
The Utica Main Line has been out of service since flooding severely damaged it in 2006. Flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 further damaged the line, though all of the damage has been exclusively within the perimeters of Chenango County, not in neighboring Broome and Madison counties. The DCC said it will work with local businesses that once utilized the rail to transport goods, as well as new corporations that have been established in the area since the railroad was rendered inoperable.
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