Officials outline plans for proposed high speed rail
Story Created:
Nov 23, 2009 at 6:06 PM EST
Story Updated:
Nov 23, 2009 at 6:28 PM EST
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WKTV) - High speed rail talk is picking up steam here in Central New York.
State and federal leaders on the High Speed Rail Coalition gathered on Monday to outline opportunities for job creation, economic development and consumer convenience they feel high speed rail lines would bring.
The entire project is expected to cost $5 billion, according to the New York State Department of Transportation. Under the plan, high speed rail lines would run from Buffalo to Albany and then down to New York City.
Officials are seeking several federal funding sources to get the money and expect to have high speed rail up and running by 2018 according to the Department of Transportation.
There is a high speed line run by Amtrak from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington D.C., but efforts to create lines elsewhere have been going on for years. California for instance is recognized as having the most well developed vision for rail, a project that would reportedly cost between $35-45 billion dollars and link several major cities.
At a news conference at Syracuse's transportation building on Monday, leaders outlined potential benefits gained from a study by the High Speed Rail NY Coalition released in July.
Congressional representatives Dan Maffei (D-25th), Michael Arcuri (D-24th) and Louise Slaughter (D-28th) among other members of the Rail Coalition are likening HSR to the economic development created by the Erie Canal and NYS Thruway.
"We don't have an airport with close services so having a train that will be able to get from Buffalo to get to Albany to get to New York City quickly is just extremely important," said Arcuri.
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer released the following statement following today's announcement on the economic impact of high-speed rail:
"We are thrilled to have the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce on our team in the fight to bring high speed rail to Upstate New York. Today's announcement reinforces what I have been arguing on almost a daily basis to the White House and the Department of Transportation: that high speed rail has the potential to revitalize the Upstate New York economy, help businesses, and create jobs."
State Senator Joseph Griffo (R,I,C, -Rome) released his own statement, saying: "The studies have shown that there's a viability for high-speed rail connecting Upstate regions with the Capitol, New York City and Canada." "The key is that we must accomplish real high-speed rail service similar to the bullet-trains in Asia and Europe. The finished product must be a reliable, dependable, affordable and accessible alternative to traveling by car or plane."
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