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. 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 (R205): 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.
2. Rensselaer-Schenectady Double Track (A395 &
S150): This project will provide greater dispatching
flexibility to improve freight and passenger operational efficiencies. The cost is $14M and is split evenly between
Albany County and Schenectady County divisions in the TIP.
3. Livingston Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation, Albany
(A394): In conjunction with the double tracking project, this
project increases the bridge's capacity and high-speed operational
implications. Total cost is $15M.
4. Track Improvements in Rensselaer County (R207): 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.
5. Rensselaer Amtrak Shop Construction (R206): 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.
It’s the understanding of CDTC that all of these projects were obligated for construction before October 1, 2000. As a result, none of them appear in the five-year TIP listings.