New York Susquehanna & Western's CRISI grant to fund rail line upgrade

Nearly $4 million in federal funding has been awarded to complete a major modernization project on the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway's (NYSW) main line in central New York, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced yesterday.

The funding will help pay for replacing miles of near-century-old rail between Cortland and Onondaga counties. The project is designed to increase safety, reliability, capacity and sustainability — all of which are critical for major economic development in central New York, according to a press release issued by Schumer's office.

The funding is being issued through the Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. The award brings the total federal investment in NYSW’s project to $10.4 million, including $3.5 million in fiscal-year 2022 CRISI funding and $2.9 million in FY2021 CRISI funding, according to Schumer's office.

The work will help ensure major manufacturing projects — like Micron’s $100 billion investment — can have access to the modern freight-rail infrastructure, Schumer said.

“This project upgrades local rail infrastructure to enhance reliability and reduce highway congestion while preserving the region’s access to the national freight network," said NYSW President James Bonner.