High Speed Rail still on agenda according to Bruno!

[Timmy]

Friday, May 4, 2007
FAST TRAINS IN NY: SLASHING TRAVEL TIME IS KEY TO ACCELERATING UPSTATE ECONOMY

Senator Bruno's plan for high-speed rail was greeted with enthusiasm by members of the Center for Economic Growth.

By Senator Joseph L. Bruno

Just as the Erie Canal and the NYS Thruway revolutionized accessibility in transport, we must now plan for the future of high-speed rail travel here in New York State. The ability to move people, products and ideas--quickly, dependably--is key to our state’s success. Linking upstate cities with high-speed trains will not only dramatically reduce travel time, it will stimulate the economy and firmly establish New York’s place as a national transportation innovation and technology leader.

Today, it takes almost exactly the same amount of time to travel by train between Albany and New York City as it did in the 1950s. High speed trains could slash the travel time from Buffalo to New York City from over eight hours today, to little more than three hours. Train travel between Albany and New York City would take just 1-1/2 hours. Such "bullet trains" operate regularly in countries throughout Europe and Asia. It’s time for New York to get on board.

I plan to include $5 million in the 2005-06 State Budget to began planning for such a system--to study the feasibility of such a system, estimate its total cost and begin moving forward so that high speed rail could be part of our reality in next year’s State budget(2007 budget).

A 1997 Federal Railroad Administration study already cited upstate New York as one of two regions in the nation best suited for high-speed rail, and said that such a system would be cost-effective, recovering nearly all of its investment from its travelers and fares over an extended period.

The benefits of statewide rapid transit include: making upstate cities more attractive for new technology businesses with jobs to help lure young people and families back to upstate communities; expanding tourism opportunities; new, lower cost alternatives to air travel for families and businesses; a healthier environment from reduced reliance on automobiles; thousands of new jobs that will be created during construction of the new system; and improved quality of life for all New Yorkers.

Rail service is critically important for New York, but we can’t rely on existing systems. We must have a plan in place for rail service that provides fast, reliable service. We’ve made improvements to highways and bridges, we’ve improved airline service and facilities, and we cannot ignore high speed rail service because it’s too important for New York’s economic future.

Also check out link
http://www.cdta.org/hsr/NYS%20HSR%20Action%20Program%20FS%20--%20West%20Corridor.pdf

[300miles]

I plan to include $5 million in the 2005-06 State Budget to began planning for such a system--to study the feasibility of such a system, estimate its total cost and begin moving forward so that high speed rail could be part of our reality in next year’s State budget(2007 budget).
So why isn't it in the 2007 budget??

[atotaltotalfan2001]

So why isn't it in the 2007 budget??

A $5 million feasibility study. I'd say great, if I believed for a second that bullet trains will ever come to upstate NY.

[300miles]

But the statement said the $5 million feasibility study was for the 2005-2006 budget, so that the project itself could be funded in 2007.

That's what I'm confused about. We're well into 2007, so what is the status of all this?

[steven]

just think how much faster all the pols can steal your money and be back downstate with it :D ;) :D

[Linda_D]

When I still lived in Albany -- more than ten years ago -- the state was supposed to test a high speed train that was to run along the Thruway ROW. It was supposed to cut travel time between Buffalo and Albany down to like 1 or 2 hours rather than the 6 it takes now by rail.

I don't know what happened to that, but I never saw or heard anything else about this. I'm not going to get excited over high speed rail until the thing actually starts running -- if it ever does.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

I think IF high speed rail were to ever come to Buffalo it should focus on linking downtown Buffalo with downtown Rochester first. Then connect downtown Buffalo to the high spreed rail from Toronto second.

The other thing that needs to change is where the train station would be. On the pdf, the plans call for it to stay in Depew. I think it should be moved back to the CT.

I agree with Linda that is is most likely never going to happen but if it does, we should focus on connecting to our two closes major cities first.

Being a pivot point between Rochester and Toronto would do wonders for our business environment however.

[Timmy]

People forget that the DL&W was an urban Rail Station and the only thing missing is the Concourse, waiting and Ticketing Building. Furthermore, the DL&W was also an intermodal station since it included docks for passenger ships which could be used today for Great Lakes Cruise Ships.

I agree with you that the trains should return to the Central Terminal or even to the DL&W.....but my talks with Albany and the High Speed Rail Commission all but exclude Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse and Utica/Rome from any High Speed Rail investment. All the investment in high speed rail is going between Albany and NYC which amounts to little more than another tax upon all of NYS for downstate political pork.

THE ONLY CONCESSION THEY MADE WAS THAT THEY WOULD BRING HIGH SPEED RAIL TO BUFFALO IF AND ONLY IF ONTARIO DECIDED TO EXTEND ITS HIGH SPEED RAIL FROM TORONTO/HAMILTON TO NIAGARA FALLS AT WHICH POINT BECAUSE OF THE BILATERAL COMMISSION SIGNED BY ONTARIO AND NYS....MATCHING FUNDS WOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR AN EXTENSION TO BUFFALO.

HOW SAD AND PATHETIC IS THAT....BUFFALO PAYS SOME OF THE HIGHEST TAXES IN THE NATION..AND IT GETS SIPHONED OFF TO ALBANY AND DOWNSTATE.

[300miles]

The other thing that needs to change is where the train station would be. On the pdf, the plans call for it to stay in Depew. I think it should be moved back to the CT.

I agree with Linda that is is most likely never going to happen but if it does, we should focus on connecting to our two closes major cities first.

When Bashar Issa starts throwing his money around at the Central Terminal, there will be a big incentive to bring the station back to it.

As far as the Buff-Rochester rail link... i dunno. Whatever is built needs to see high volume of passengers. I'm not sure that there are enough people in Buffalo and Rochester that would pay to ride the train.

I think the best option is to do a the whole thing all at once. None of this phase 1, phase 2 crap. (Since we know "phase 2" rarely actually happens) If the state is going to build it they need to go full throttle and build the whole thing connecting Niagara Falls - Buffalo - Rochester - Syracuse - Albany - NYC. Then while that's under construction we can work with Ontario to build a Niagara Falls - Hamilton - Toronto connection.

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

When Bashar Issa starts throwing his money around at the Central Terminal, there will be a big incentive to bring the station back to it.

He has to get through one project first. Let's just hope the morons at city hall do not get in the way.

As far as the Buff-Rochester rail link... i dunno. Whatever is built needs to see high volume of passengers. I'm not sure that there are enough people in Buffalo and Rochester that would pay to ride the train.

I think the best option is to do a the whole thing all at once. None of this phase 1, phase 2 crap. (Since we know "phase 2" rarely actually happens) If the state is going to build it they need to go full throttle and build the whole thing connecting Niagara Falls - Buffalo - Rochester - Syracuse - Albany - NYC. Then while that's under construction we can work with Ontario to build a Niagara Falls - Hamilton - Toronto connection.

Love the idea but......