Governor Pataki spent considerable time last week pointing to and polishing his transportation record. He was prominent at the Grand Central Terminal rededication ceremony and announced that NY State would make an unprecedented investment in inter-city rail passenger service. In September, the Governor also presided over groundbreaking for the first phase of the Port Authority JFK airport-Jamaica station light rail line. In this region, development of new transit services is good politics.

Last Tuesday, the Governor and Amtrak said they would split a $185 million investment in Amtrak Empire Corridor infrastructure and service over the next five years to provide faster, more convenient passenger train service between NYC and Buffalo. They said the initiative will allow passengers to travel from New York City to Albany in less than two hours, reducing current travel time by approximately 30 minutes.

Amtrak said the high speed trains that will be built for New York will be the only trains in the world capable of reaching 125 mph in non-electrified areas. The program will address immediate infrastructure and equipment needs along the Empire Corridor, including construction of a second track between Albany and Schenectady, upgrading a rail bridge across the Hudson and improving curved track sections and maintenance facilities.

The Tri-State Transportation Campaign hailed the use of NY State funds for rail improvements. "Using state capital dollars for mass transportation is a very good thing, compared to where it usually goes, into more roads. It's the kind of transportation investment that will help development in city centers along the line, like in Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany. If you put the millions of dollars into highway lanes, you'd just be accelerating sprawl," said the Campaign's Jon Orcutt.

NY State's contribution to the program will be primarily federal-aid funds the state is receiving under the TEA-21 law. TEA-21 allows states to direct certain federal funds to Amtrak projects and service.