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(erielack) 6/16 Buffalo News Article: S. Tier Rail Authority

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Below is an article that appeared in this morning's Buffalo News regarding
the above:


SALAMANCA - Gov. George E. Pataki has 10 days to sign into law the state
legislation that will create the Southern Tier Rail Authority.
His approval would ensure continued rail service on an east-west rail line
extending across Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.
The railroad authority - the first of its kind created by the state - will
oversee the 142-mile line formerly owned by Conrail and, decades before, by
the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad.
Legislatures in all four counties last week sent home-rule messages to state
lawmakers seeking formation of the authority for 30 years.
The authority will have the power to waive taxes and will assign an
operator, probably Norfolk Southern, to run the line for the next 18 years -
tax-free for the first eight years.
A total of $2 million annually will be lost in the four counties along the
line.
State Sen. Patricia K. McGee, R-Franklinville, and Assemblyman William
Parment, D-North Harmony, sponsored the legislation in their respective
houses.
The Southern Tier West Regional Planning Board has been working for more
than 10 years to create the authority in order to keep freight rail service
going.
Its executive director, Donald Rychnowski, said Wednesday: "We've never had
a piece of legislation on the governor's desk before. I haven't notified the
railroad yet, until I see the governor's signature."
Counties would appoint 12 members to the authority. One each would represent
the Southern Tier West Planning Board and the Seneca Nation of Indians. Much
of the line is located on the Senecas' Allegany Reservation in and near
Salamanca.
"Bipartisan cooperation on the county and state levels made this possible,"
McGee said. "Creating this authority is imperative to maintaining viable
rail service in the Southern Tier, which is so important to creating and
keeping jobs along the corridor."
The new state budget includes $100,000 for administrative costs for the
authority and $1.1 million in other money to rehabilitate the rail line.


Regards,

Chris Thurner




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