advertisement

---

The New York State Department of Transportation recently provided $20 million to help fund 15 freight-rail projects and cover passenger-rail subsidies.

The funding comes from monies set aside for the third year of a five-year, $100 million Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program financed by dedicated state funds that provides $20 million annually. Funds can be used to finance track and bridge improvements, grade crossing eliminations or upgrades, new intermodal facilities and passenger-service subsidies.

Monies from the 2007-2008 program include:
• $5 million to Amtrak to subsidize operating costs associated with the Adirondack service;
• $1.7 million to New York & Atlantic Railway to construct an industrial rail terminal and restore portions of Deer Park Yard;
• $1.6 million to Clarendon & Pittsford Railroad Corp. to rehabilitate track and a bridge;
• $1.5 million to Canadian Pacific Railway, Norfolk Southern Railway and New York Susquehanna & Western Railway to improve Binghamton Yard, which will facilitate interchanges among the three railroads and minimize delays;
• $1.5 million to Owego & Harford Railway Inc. to improve track and bridges;
• $1.49 million to Mohawk Adirondack & Northern Railroad Corp. to rehabilitate track;
• $1.1 million to Arcade & Attica Railroad Corp. to rehabilitate rail;
• $1 million to the town of Corinth to complete emergency repairs on the Adirondack Branch between Saratoga and Corinth;
• $950,000 to Falls Road Railroad Co. Inc. to rehabilitate a bridge over the Erie Canal in Lockport;
• $875,000 to Batten Kill Railroad Co. to repair substructures at four bridges;
• $822,000 to Finger Lakes Railway to rehabilitate and improve track and bridges;
• $725,000 to Buffalo Southern Railroad Inc. to rehabilitate and install track;
• $604,000 to CSX Transportation to improve track and construct a siding in Kingston;
• $500,000 to Livonia Avon & Lakeville Railroad Corp. to rehabilitate track; and
• $257,000 to Empire State Development Corp. to improve track at the Radisson Park rail yard.