NORWICH – Nearly a year and a half after the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency secured a bulk of the funding to restore the defunct Utica Main Line, plans are on track to begin work on the railroad as early as spring, according to the CCIDA.
The railroad became a point of discussion at a regular meeting of the IDA held last week. Despite minor bumps along the way, the IDA hopes to have all necessary paperwork for the $5.9 million project completed by the time weather permits work to start, said Commerce Chenango President and CEO Steve Craig.
“We believe at this point we have cleared some regulatory hurdles with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Conservation,” said Craig, citing major involvement of the two agencies because the Utica Main Line runs adjacent to the Chenango River bed.
Meetings between the CCIDA, the DEC, the Army Corps, and Stone Consulting (the company contracted by the CCIDA to conduct engineering reports) revealed that despite confusion over the way information on the project was being presented, the CCIDA is staying in compliance with state and federal requirements, which means the project may go out to bid by early winter.
“It turns out we already had most if the information (the DEC and Army Corps) were looking for, but it wasn’t done in a format they like to see,” said Craig. “Now we’re working on getting that information in a format they’re use to seeing. The goal is still to go out to bid as soon as we can.”
Included in the project is replacement of approximately 1,600 railroad ties located in washout sites between the Town of Green and the Town of Sherburne. Suggestions are also to replace nearly 17,000 additional ties that have deteriorated over time. A survey of railroad conditions completed early this year showed that while the project needs fewer regular ties than expected, it needs more bridge ties which are bigger, heavier and more expensive, said Craig.
Having work go to bid as soon as possible would allow contractors time to order railroad ties and plan to start work when the snow melts.
Intentions are to restore the line to what is mostly a class two railroad, meaning freight trains will be allowed to travel at 25 miles per hour. Only portions of the railroad will be designated class one, which limits freights to 10 miles per hour.
The Chenango County IDA has cleared a number of financial barriers since embarking in the railroad restoration project. In June, 2013, the CCIDA received a $4.7 million grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration to cover 80 percent the estimated cost of the project. EDA funding supplements an additional $772,722 grant awarded in 2011 by the New York State Department of Transportation, contingent on the entire project being completed.
Remaining costs of the project will be footed by private and local entities: $58,755 from the CCIDA; $112,500 from the Development Chenango Corporation; approximately $150,000 from the Chenango County government; and $85,825 from New York Susquehanna and Western Railway Corporation, proprietor and operator of the railroad.
In February, the Chenango County Finance Committee authorized release of government funding. A resolution adopted by the Chenango County Board of Supervisors in 2012 promises the CCIDA up to $200,000 local share, though new estimates predict the county’s share may range lower – between $150,000 and $180,000.
The Utica Main Line that runs 45.5 miles through the county has been inoperable since it was badly impacted by heavy flooding in 2006 and further damaged by more flooding in 2011.
In 2013, the CCIDA also renewed a 10-year PILOT agreement with New York Susquehanna and Western Railway Corporation. The agreement gives title to the line to the CCIDA while NYS&W is required to maintain the railroad upon completion of the project.