(rshsdepot) Hudson, NY

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

From The Independent.
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
 
Hudson's Amtrak station gets $6M upgrade 
 
 
By:RICHARD ROTH 
09/05/2007

 
 
(http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=248&dept_id=462341&newsid=18787912) 

RENSSELAER-As part of a $22 million commitment signed this  week to create 
high-speed rail service and revitalize rail service in the state,  Senator Steve 
Saland (R-41st) has announced $6 million for improvements at the  Hudson Rail 
Station. 


The announcement of the overall funding was made by Senator  Joseph Bruno 
(R-43rd), majority leader of the state Senate, at a press  conference Wednesday 
morning, September 5, at the Rensselaer Amtrak Station,  which serves Albany 
and much of the Capital District.
The funding includes  $11 million for track improvements at the recently 
completed Rensselaer  station.

The New York State Senate High Speed Rail Task Force was  established in 2005 
to remedy the declining status of passenger rail service in  the state. "This 
was a recommendation of our... task force," Senator Saland said  Wednesday 
afternoon, commenting on the targets of the funding.

The original recommendations from the task force included a  two-part Action 
Program designed to improve rail service immediately and in the  long-term. 
Phase A of the plan commits the $22 million. The $6 million for  Hudson will 
allow passenger and freight trains to continue through without  slowing down or 
stopping while a train is in the station.

"What happens is you can have rail traffic bottleneck [at  Hudson] because of 
'hold clear' if passenger train is at station," said Senator  Saland. Though 
there at two tracks at Hudson now, a "hold clear" signal at the  station 
allows only one track to be used at a time. Freight and passenger trains  are held 
out of the station and not allowed to pass while a train is being  boarded. 
This causes delays and restricts flexibility in schedules.

Mr. Saland said that the new funding will pay for an  overhead walkway and a 
platform on the river side, improvements that will "allow  trains to pass at 
opposite directions without having to be held if one is  receiving or letting 
off passengers."

The senator, whose district includes all of Columbia and  parts of Dutchess 
County, stressed the importance of rail service to the state's  economy. He 
described the upgrades as a first-step in improving the reliability  and speed of 
trains along the Hudson corridor.

In addition to the overhead walkway, plans call for an  elevator and platform 
on the river side of the tracks connecting to the station.  Some track work 
and "reconfiguration" will be required.
Mr. Saland said  businesses are attracted to areas with reliable, flexible 
transportation, and he  believes this plan brings the region closer to 
delivering that type of  service.

Senator Bruno, who represents Rensselaer and parts of  Saratoga counties, was 
joined at his press conference by transportation and  business leaders. In 
addition to the funds for the Hudson and Rensselaer  stations, the plan 
designates $4 million to stabilize the rock slope under the  George Washington Bridge 
to increase train speed and improve safety.

"Today's important announcement makes good on the Senate's  commitment to 
turn its task force's recommendations into action so we can end  needless rail 
delays, increase the speed of travel and strengthen the region's  economy," Mr. 
Bruno said in a release from his office.

Ron Thaniel, Amtrak's director of government and  communications, New York, 
expressed his organization's gratitude to Senator  Bruno and the state for his 
"steadfast support of Amtrak and passenger rail." 

The $22 million in Senate funds were approved as part of  the 2006-07 state 
budget and are being advanced as the result of a recent  agreement between the 
Senate's High-Speed Rail Task Force and the state  Department of 
Transportation. The initiatives mirror the recommendations of a  report previously issued 
by the Senate Task Force.

Senator Saland said the state DOT did not act on the plan  last year, but the 
memorandum of understanding between the agency and the Senate  was signed 
within the last couple of weeks.

The Rensselaer Station will get a fourth track with related  signal work, 
which is intended to increase capacity and flexibility, and to  reduce 
congestion. Platforms and canopies will be extended, and an existing  building will be 
demolished.

Approximately $1 million of the $22 million will be  allocated pending the 
final approval of individual project scopes.

Senator Saland said he expects the work "will start in  relatively short 
order" after going through the normal bidding  process.





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