New York awards $101M for rail, port infrastructure projects

New York state officials last week awarded more than $101 million in funding for 25 freight-rail and port modernization projects, including two separate $10 million grants to the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) for a set of bridge modernization projects.

The grants were awarded through the New York Department of Transportation's (NYDOT) Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program (PFRAP). Grant recipients were selected through a competitive process with criteria in safety, climate resiliency and compatibility with regional economic development plans, according to a press release from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's office.

LIRR will use one grant to replace the Fresh Pond Yard Bridge in Queens with a new structure that meets modern loading and clearance standards. This will ensure continued movement of freight on and off Long Island via the New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA), state officials said in the release. The commuter railroad shares tracks with the NYA. The other grant will support the LIRR's rehabilitation of the English Kills Bridge, which connects to a rail yard in Brooklyn. 

The New York City Department of Small Business Services (NYCSBS) also received two $10 million grants, which the department will use to build a fully electrified maritime hub in Hunts Point and to rehabilitate Pier 10, part of the Port of New York and New Jersey complex, which will support operations at the Red Hook Container Terminal. The port offers connections to CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway via on- and near-dock ExpressRail service.

Of the remaining 21 projects to receive grants, top recipients include the Rochester & Southern Railroad, which will use $5,964,817 in PFRAP funds to replace the Oatka Creek Bridge and replace ties on the railroad main line. The Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W)-owned short line operates 101 track miles connecting Buffalo, Rochester and Silver Springs, New York. 

Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority received $5,663,124 for railroad track and bridge rehabilitation. The authority, which manages transportation assets in the North Country region of New York, will replace  10 miles of rail, one turnout, four private crossings and surface track for the New York & Ogdensburg Railway. The funding will also support rehabilitation of a segment of track to accommodate industry-standard rail cars.

G&W's Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad will use $4,681,127 to replace more than 21,000 feet of rail, repair four bridges, rehabilitate four turnouts and improve nine grade crossings on its main line and secondary line between Buffalo, New York, and the Pennsylvania state line. 

The Livingston County Industrial Development Agency received $4,559,660 in PFRAP funds to support construction of a rail-car unloading facility for Jaguar Tubulars, a wire, cable and tubing manufacturer in Avon, New York. 

The Erie County Industrial Develop Agency received PFRAP grant funding of $4,392,639 for the construction of a new rail spur at the Welded Tube USA manufacturing facility in Lackawanna, New York. Both the Livingston and Erie Counties' projects will reduce highway congestion in New York by allowing for the delivery and shipment of products via rail instead of truck. 

For a full breakdown of the 25 projects and their respective grants, click here.