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The state of New York will receive $3.3 million in federal stimulus funds to advance the state’s high-speed intercity passenger rail program, U.S. Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood announced today.

The project, which calls for adding track and rail capacity in a congested upstate New York area, will lead to greater reliability and faster travel times, which are necessary to achieve faster train speeds, LaHood said in a prepared statement.

The federal dollars will fund construction of two miles of second mainline used by Amtrak’s Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express services near Ballston Spa, N.Y. Both services registered an increase in ridership last year. The second mainline will relieve significant congestion near the Saratoga Springs station and a major freight yard. Currently, Amtrak trains sometimes wait up to 30 minutes for the track to clear.

The New York Department of Transportation will contribute $3.5 million for the project, which also required the state to obtain a signed service outcome agreement with Canadian Pacific.

Construction is slated to begin later this spring.

“New York is committed to moving forward with high-speed rail and these federal resources are an important step in that direction,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

To date, more than $5.3 billion has been obligated to states under the Federal Railroad Administration’s high-speed rail program, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.