Imagine zipping from Syracuse east to Albany or west to Niagara Falls at 110 miles an hour. On a train.
That’s the vision for high-speed rail through Central New York, as part of a national effort to expand and speed up rail travel.
“Support for this project is strong,” said Rob Simpson, president of the Metropolitan Development Association of Central New York. “We believe this is a unique and significant opportunity for Upstate New York — one on which we must capitalize.”
High-speed rail is touted by supporters as an economic godsend and an environmental blessing. Building high-speed rail tracks would add jobs, say supporters. And it’s fast, efficient travel would likely lure more drivers away from their autos, lowering carbon emissions from highway traffic.
But high-speed rail is now in doubt for Syracuse and much of the nation.
In 2010, President Barak Obama proposed a national network of 13 sets of new tracks in 31 states built to carry passengers at speeds of at least 110 miles per hour. To fund the project, Obama sought $8 billion to spend in 20102 and $53 billion over six years.
Locally, the high-speed rail project included 463 miles of what’s called the Empire Corridor through New York. It runs north from New York through Albany, and then turns west passing through Schenectady, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. It ends in Niagara Falls. The Obama administration had earmarked $148 million for the New York project.
But after the 2010 midterm elections, Republicans gained control of the House and Congress voted to kill the program.
The attractions remain for supporters.
“Rail is a more fuel efficient and cleaner way of moving people and freight. By reducing our reliance on highways, we can help improve the air quality in Syracuse and other cities in New York state,” said David Chan, project manager for the High Speed Rail Corridor Project for the state transportation department.
“Syracuse is one of the busiest sections along the Empire Corridor railroad,” he said. To reduce traffic congestion around Syracuse, the Federal Railroad Administration has appropriated $18.56 million, he said, and the state is chipping in with $4.64 million. The state is waiting for the grant money from the federal government. The project, Chan said, will reduce rail congestion around the Syracuse station by building bypasses for freight trains and upgrading the station’s platforms.
In addition, say supporters, high-speed rail would cut costs and time for passengers. A train ride to New Jersey on high-speed rail would take approximately two hours and cost one-quarter the price of driving or current train fare, said Frank Koblisky, executive director of Central New York’s Regional Transportation Authority.
For now, the program waits in limbo for congress to free up the funds, which could be after the 2012 Presidential election. Koblisky said New York will keep waiting until Congress wakes up.
“We are ready,” said Koblisky.
(Rebekah Jones is a senior with dual majors in geography and newspaper journalism.) This story was updated with information from David Chan on Dec. 9.
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