$3.3m has been awarded to New York in high speed rail funding.
The funding will allow the state to add track and rail capacity to the congested Upstate New York area, advancing the state’s high speed intercity passenger rail program.
The project is being funded from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“Adding track in Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa will reduce congestion and improve reliability,” said Secretary LaHood.
New York State previously received $3.3 million for two miles of second mainline track used by Amtrak’s Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express services near the Village of Ballston Spa, NY.
Both of these services saw an increase in ridership in 2010, and the second mainline track will relieve significant congestion near the Saratoga train station and a major freight classification yard.
The New York Department of Transportation is contributing $3.5 million for this project, which has also signed a service outcome agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway. Construction will begin in spring 2011.
“Adding rail capacity is an integral part of our high-speed intercity passenger rail program, and it creates win-win situations for passengers and the freight railroads,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo.
To date, more than $5.3 billion has been obligated to states under the Federal Railroad Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program.
