New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn today announced $20 million in state funding for projects that will upgrade critical rail infrastructure across New York State. Selected projects include emergency repairs, safety and capacity enhancements and track structure and intermodal terminal improvements.

"This $20 million in rail funding is an essential investment in New York State’s rail infrastructure that will generate economic development and reduce the number of trucks on our roads," Commissioner Glynn said. "Maintaining and expanding a modern rail network is crucial for ensuring passenger and freight mobility. In these tough economic times, investing in our rail infrastructure will support job creation and economic competitiveness."

The funding announced today is consistent with the state’s financial plan. The funding includes the third year of the five-year, $100 million Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program financed by the State Dedicated Fund. The initiative, adopted in 2005, provided for rail improvements at $20 million per year through 2010. During the first round of funding in 2005, 19 railroads were awarded $40 million.

Applications for state fiscal year 2008-2009 funding from the Passenger and Rail Freight Assistance Program and the Transportation Bond Act will be issued in mid-May and will incorporate new criteria for assessing eligible rail projects and their benefits to the public.

"Today’s rail investment helps ensure that New York State has reliable rail service that businesses and citizens can count on for moving goods and traveling," Commissioner Glynn said. "During the past year, the State Department of Transportation has evaluated its rail needs and priorities. We will be publicizing new criteria for the next round of funding, which will focus on improving freight capacity, removing trucks from our roads and generating business growth and development while reducing energy usage."

New criteria for the next round of project funding will be based on the following eight measures:

	Readiness of a project to be implemented in the fiscal year it is funded.
	Economic development and sustainability, the ability to grow and retain business.
	Environmental impacts.
	Energy savings and emission reductions as measured by removing heavy truck traffic from State highways.
	Reduction in highway maintenance expenses.
	Sustainability of the existing rail infrastructure network.
	Safety and security.

The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program, administered by NYSDOT, is financed by the state’s five-year transportation capital program. The funds will be used for track and bridge improvements, grade crossing eliminations or upgrades, construction of inter-modal facilities and passenger-service subsidies.

Projects funded as part of the $20 million 2007-2008 program include the following:

	$875,000 to Batten Kill Railroad Co. for critical substructure repairs to four bridges in Washington County.
	$1.49 million to Mohawk Adirondack & Northern Railroad Corp. for track rehabilitation in Utica and Rome, Oneida County, and Lyons Falls, Lewis County.
	$500,000 to Livonia Avon & Lakeville Railroad Corp. for track rehabilitation in Livingston and Monroe counties.
	$822,000 to Finger Lakes Railroad Co., Inc. for track and bridge rehabilitation and improvements in Schuyler and Yates counties.
	$1.1 million to Arcade & Attica Railroad Corp. for rail rehabilitation in Wyoming County.
	$1.5 million to Owego & Harford Railway, Inc. for track and bridge improvements in Tioga and Cortland counties.
	$257,000 to Empire State Development Corporation for track improvements at the Radisson Park Rail Yard in Onondaga County.
	$725,000 to Buffalo Southern Railroad, Inc. for track rehabilitation and installation in Erie County
	$1.7 million to New York & Atlantic Railroad Corp. for industrial rail terminal construction and yard restoration in at the Deer Park Yard in Suffolk County.
	$604,000 to CSX Transportation, Inc. for track improvements and siding construction in Kingston, Ulster County.
	$1 million to the Town of Corinth to complete emergency repairs of the Adirondack Branch between Saratoga and Corinth.
	$1.5 million to Canadian Pacific Railway, Norfolk Southern Railway Co. and New York Susquehanna & Western Railway for improvements at Binghamton Yard in Broome County, designed to facilitate interaction among the three railroads and minimize delays.
	$5 million to Amtrak to subsidize operating costs associated with the Adirondack train service that travels through Schenectady, Saratoga, Essex, Washington and Clinton counties.
	$950,000 to Falls Road Railroad Co., Inc. to rehabilitate a bridge over the Erie Canal in Lockport, Niagara County.
	$1.588 million to Clarendon & Pittsford Railroad Corp. for track and bridge rehabilitation in Washington County.

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