Writing from Upstate New York, I'd have to say there's more than a little rejoicing that Florida's reactionary governor Rick Scott, pursuing a bold vision of returning Florida to the 19th Century, is going to help New York State get its rail systems in better shape for the 21st Century. The Times Union is the major newspaper of the Capitol Region, and the last couple of days has seen some celebrating in the pages of the paper.
Some highlights below the fold.
The editorial pages of the Times Union made note of the funding switch today: New York’s funding express.
Wow, thanks, Florida. Especially you, Gov. Rick Scott. Thanks a million. Ah, make that $354 million. The Sunshine State’s blunder is, literally, a gravy train for the Empire State.
Demonstrating the sense Mr. Scott so clearly lacks, Governor Cuomo, cheered on by New York’s congressional delegation, applied for the state’s share of the $2.4 billion in federal money that suddenly was available after the Florida governor rejected funds for an ambitious high-speed rail project.
For a welcome change, New York is among the true beneficiaries of federal policies that determine where money from Washington goes. So, too, are Connecticut, Massachusetts and 12 other states as well. The states that have embraced President Obama’s commitment to a bold expansion of rail service with workable plans of their own can reap the spoils of victory in a potentially momentous transportation policy struggle.
This money couldn't come at a better time; an article in the business section today notes that Amtrak ridership through the area is up by double digit numbers. (I believe Albany-Rensselaer is among Amtrak's top 10 stations.)
Ridership on the Ethan Allen Express to Rutland was up 14.9 percent from year-earlier levels, while passenger totals on trains west of Albany to Buffalo and Toronto were up 13.9 percent.
The Lake Shore Limited posted a 15.3 percent rise, while the Adirondack was up 12.0 percent. Empire Service trains between Albany and New York City posted a 6.9 percent gain.
Overall, Amtrak carried 2.7 million riders in April, the 18th consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth. The data were released one day after more than $2 billion in federal funds was distributed to states and Amtrak to improve passenger rail services. In the Capital Region, $58 million in federal funds, augmented by state funding, will pay for a fourth track and platform extensions at the Rensselaer train station and for a new Schenectady station, as well as for signal improvements south of Rensselaer.
There's been a lot of favorable reaction to news that long-standing impediments to better rail service in upstate New York are going to be addressed:
“New York stands ready to use this federal money to rebuild our transportation infrastructure, expand high speed rail, and put New Yorkers back to work. In April I applied for federal grant money to fund promising projects that would push New York’s high-speed rail plans forward and create jobs,” Governor Cuomo said. “Today, the US Department of Transportation awarded New York $354.4 million for three projects. These initiatives have tremendous potential and will be a significant factor in ushering our economy and transportation system into the 21st century. I thank Secretary LaHood and his team for their careful review of the projects.”
...
“If the administration wants to award hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade our transportation infrastructure and create faster, more efficient passenger rail service, there is no need to ask New York twice. This historic investment will add a vital new track at the Albany station, which will make it easier and more efficient to move train to all parts of upstate New York from Buffalo to the northern border; it will clear up the spaghetti of confusing lines and signals that slow down travel on the Boston-New York- -DC corridor. And it will make significant upgrades to our upstate rail corridors and out-dated stations, like in Rochester and Schenectady, to establish high speed rail. We need this critical funding and if other states don’t want it, we’ll gladly take it.” – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer
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“I am thrilled that Secretary LaHood has awarded these investments to the New York Region where ridership continues to grow, and I am thankful for his leadership. Clearly, there is a demand to increase rail transit in New York and across the Northeast. These investments will make a major impact in meeting that demand by relieving congestion and increasing the reliability of service.
“There is no doubt, we must expand high speed rail to connect more travelers, workers and businesses, create new construction jobs immediately and provide an economic engine to fuel our growth for the long term. Today, we have taken a major step closer to the goal of a robust high speed rail system for our State and Region that will help grow the nation’s economy. I will keep fighting for investments to expand high speed rail to every corner of New York.” - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
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“This is a significant award for our region, which will help provide badly needed infrastructure upgrades and continue laying the groundwork for high speed rail in New York State,” said Congressman Tonko. “These upgrades will help relieve bottlenecks in the system which often delay passenger trains and lead to headaches for commuters. I want to thank my colleagues, particularly Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, for working with U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and Governor Cuomo to provide these additional funds for New York. High speed rail continues to create jobs, rebuild our economy and help grow our small businesses.”
And let's not forget what this means: jobs - and green jobs at that!
Tomorrow, the New York State Apollo Alliance is participating in a press event at Alstom Signaling, a manufacturing facility in the Rochester suburb of West Henrietta. The featured speaker will be John Porcari, who is number two at the federal DOT. He will be joined by Alstom and National Apollo officials to announce that some of this high speed rail money will be used at that Alstom plant to create up to 200 new jobs, filling orders from Amtrak and other railroads to improve service.
It’s a win/win situation: good for New York because it creates jobs, and good for the environment because it improves public transportation and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
All aboard.
Personally, there's more than a little schadenfreude here in this for me (and others in the Empire State). For years we've sent more money to Washington than we've gotten back. It's about time the money started going where it will be appreciated - and put to good use. It's one of those annoying facts that the red states by and large suck down more money from the Federal Government than they kick into the national kitty - talk about biting the hand! This is the way I want to get tax money back from D.C. instead of in the form of tax cuts for billionaires.
To all of the people in Florida who helped put Rick Scott in office - thanks!