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Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) said today that money included in the economic recovery plan for transit and high speed rail projects may offer promise for key local projects that could help revitalize the Upstate New York economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which is expected to pass both houses of Congress today, includes $8.4 billion for investment in transit projects and $8 billion for high speed rail.

“I specifically fought to preserve transit and high speed rail funds in the recovery package, in a way that would make the projects relevant to the needs of upstate New York,” said Rep. Tonko. “Rail is the most efficient form of travel, and it fits into strategies for creating a comprehensive energy plan because it will take cars off the road, reducing congestion, pollution, and saving fuel.

“High speed rail also is a key component to reviving our upstate towns and cities,” added Tonko. “It opens up new possibilities for commuters, business and freight rail that could provide the economic opportunity that’s been lacking for many of the old industrial towns and cities along the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys.”

The funds could also be used to alleviate a key bottleneck in the rail system between Albany and Schenectady. “Right now, passenger trains and freight trains have to share a single track, dramatically slowing down travel, and frequently causing passenger trains to run late. We need to aggressively pursue stimulus funds to put a second track along that stretch and make rail travel along the empire corridor more attractive. The State Department of Transportation has already signaled their willingness to look at this project, and I look forward to working with them."

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