New York issues $27 million in grants for rail infrastructure work

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday announced the award of $27.1 million in grants for rail infrastructure improvement projects across the state.

The grants, which are being distributed under the Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program, will be used to rehabilitate 14 rail bridges, 26 grade crossings and more than 32 miles of track and facilities, according to a press release issued by Cuomo's office.

Grant recipients and their awards are:
• New York City Department of Small Business Services, Richmond County, $3.5 million for rehabilitation of the Arthur Kill Lift Bridge;
• Ontario Midland Railroad Corp., Wayne County, $2.9 million for 15 miles of track rehabilitation and to improve three grade crossings;
• Finger Lakes Railway Corp., Cayuga County, $2.8 million for coordinated yard improvements;
• MTA Long Island Railroad, Queens County, $2.8 million to rehabilitate the Union Turnpike bridge;
• Pan Am Southern LLC in Rensselaer County, $2.7 million to reconfigure and expand track at the Hoosick Junction interchange;
• Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad Corp., Oneida County, $1.8 million for engine house expansion and track and bridge rehabilitation;
• Middletown & New Jersey Railroad LLC, Orange County, $1.6 million for track rehabilitation and a siding;
• Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and Steuben Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties, $1.3 million for track rehabilitation and grade crossing improvements from Steamburg to Poland Center;
• AlbanyPort Railroad Corp., Albany County, $1.2 million to replace an existing switcher locomotive with a Tier 4 compliant switcher;
• New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway Corp., Onondaga County, $1.1 million for installation of 2.6 miles of new continuous-welded rail;
• Falls Road Railroad Co. Inc., Niagara and Orleans counties, $900,000 for bridge repairs and track rehabilitation between Lockport and Brockport;
• Rochester & Southern Railroad Inc., Genesee County, $900,000 for rehabilitation of nine grade crossings and one bridge;
• B&H Rail Corp., Steuben County, $800,000 for bridge rehabilitations;
• City of Rome, Oneida County, $800,000 for rehabilitation of a combined railroad and highway bridge;
• Central New York Railroad Corp., Delaware and Sullivan counties, $600,000 to replace high side rail and track rehabilitation;
• Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, Onondaga County, $600,000 for William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center Platform Rehabilitation;
• Catskill Revitalization Corp., Delaware County, $500,000 to restore 6.7 miles of rail for the Highmount Project; and
• Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency, Schenectady County, $300,000 for track improvements at the Glenville Business and Technology Park;

The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program is used to support projects that strengthen infrastructure and economic development.

"New York's rail and port infrastructure is critical to local economies across the state, and these grants will not only support existing commercial activities but to help attract new business investments as well," Cuomo said. "With these improvements, we can keep these economic engines running, and ensure safe and efficient travel for both passenger and freight customers statewide."