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Earlier this week, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that a trackwork project involving a Finger Lakes Railway line in Watkins Glen, N.Y., obtained $349,680 through the Federal Railroad Administration’s capital grants program.

Currently, there’s only one turnaround location on the line, which leads to the two salt plants in the area. The project calls for relocating the existing track, including an existing 800-foot turnaround, and creating two 900-foot runarounds to enable trains to pull cars in both directions. The project also includes the addition of the 1,200-foot siding so trains can move off track while loading salt and more than one train can occupy track at the same time.

Developers plan to construct a new restaurant and apartments near the turnaround, but fear the close proximity to trains poses potential risks, said Schumer in a prepared statement.

“The village of Watkins Glen has experienced a surge in tourism this summer and they are primed for economic development along the waterfront,” he said. “Relocating the track will allow developers to take advantage of the area … [and] allow the track to be used for more than just freight, opening up tourism opportunities and reducing traffic on residential roads.”