NYSDOT/Amtrak Rail Initiative

 

In order to fund a high speed rail initiative with Amtrak, NYSDOT reserved CMAQ funds before 1998-99 CMAQ allocations were made to NYSDOT Regions and MPO's. In order to qualify for funding, these projects were added to the TIP before the December 14, 1998 deadline for new CMAQ projects. In addition to the projects specific to the Capital District, this CDTC action included concurrence with the entire Rail Project initiative. This was required since the initiative involved the use of CMAQ funds before they were allocated. The federal funding for these projects would be allocated by the state to the areas with the projects. Regular CMAQ allocations would then be made.

 

Five projects were added to the CDTC's TIP. For all five projects, the CMAQ funding requires a 20% match, which will be paid by Amtrak. In addition to the five projects on the TIP, the CDTC action also included approval of CMAQ funds from this NYSDOT initiative for the upgrading of track between Saratoga and Schenectady, should the funds become available. The NYSDOT cost estimate for this additional element would be $4.0M. The five projects approved for the TIP are:

 

  1. Remanufactured Train Sets: This project provides five additional high speed trainsets for this initiative, for a total of seven remanufactured trainsets for exclusive use on New York's Empire Corridor. They will meet new service demands and complement Amtrak's currently assigned conventional equipment. This project was included in the CDTC TIP because the work will be performed at Super Steel in Glenville. The cost is $5M in 1998-99.
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  3. Rensselaer-Schenectady Double Track: This project will provide greater dispatching flexibility to improve freight and passenger operational efficiencies. The cost is $14M in 1998-99 and is split evenly between Albany County and Schenectady County divisions in the TIP.
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  5. Livingston Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation, Albany: In conjunction with the double tracking project, this project increases the bridge's capacity and high-speed operational implications. Total cost is $15M in 1998-99.
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  7. Track Improvements in Rensselaer County: This project would include state-of-the-art circuitry upgrades and improved track along the Capital District to New York City Corridor. It costs $4M in 1998-99.
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  9. Rensselaer Amtrak Shop Construction: This facility is 25 years old and was built to support the Turboliner Fleet and will need significant improvements for the additional RTL III Turboliners. Improvements include additional shops and buildings for the new equipment, relocating existing facilities, and a third rail system. Total cost is $20M in 1999-00. This is the only project in the group that is included in the five-year programming period of the 1999-04 TIP.