ALBANY -- Hearings on the public's interest in a High Speed Rail Corridor from New York City to Niagara Falls are taking place around the state. But there is a lot of talking, planning, building and demolition that has to take place before you hear the conductor yell, “all aboard!”.
You could say that state leaders are putting the cart before the horse…or more precisely, the track before the train!
Using Federal stimulus money, New York State DOT will be demolishing Amtrak's former administration building in Albany this coming February. It's all part of a larger effort to move towards high speed rail connecting New York City to Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
DOT Commissioner Stan Gee is an enthusiastic supporter of High Speed rail saying it will stimulate economic growth. But in order to build such expensive new infrastructure, the State will need to rely on major federal cash, as well as borrowing. Gee is traveling around the state holding scoping hearings making his case.
Said Benjamin Turon, Saratoga County resident, "When I was at University in Buffalo I rode a few times a year for holidays like Thanksgiving, but it was 5 and a half hours, which is not conducive to a day or business trip."
One issue could get the idea off-track. While high speed rail in Europe runs at over 150 miles an hour, for now, NY is only looking at what's called "emerging high speed rail", trains that run up to 110 mph. So when asked if they want high speed rail, others members of the public are more skeptical…
Adds Stanley Gee, Commissioner, NYSDOT, "Its like the interstate highway program, something that wasn’t built over night."
The next 2 scoping meetings are scheduled for the beginning of November in Utica and Rochester.
