Hoyt among leaders for high speed rail

The High Speed Rail New York Coalition held a press conference to announce the potential regional impact of High Speed Rail on Monday, November 23, 2009.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, Congressman Dan Maffei, Congressman Michael Arcuri, Senator Malcolm Smith and numerous New York State legislators attended the event.

The press conference was held at the William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center, located at 131 Alliance Bank Parkway in Syracuse, New York. The press conference served to highlight New York State’s submission for stimulus funding and the formation of the High Speed Rail New York Coalition.

Additionally, the press event unveiled the Coalition’s High Speed Rail Regional Impact Statement. Lastly, the event kicked off the Coalition’s public education and outreach sessions in Upstate New York.

“Upstate New York will see real impact from unprecedented federal investment of stimulus dollars in our region’s passenger service, rail stations, signal systems, and rail lines,” said Darlene Kerr, president of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce.

“Though only the first step in transforming our rail system, individual projects, like the Albany-Schenectady Reliability Improvement Project and congestion relief around Syracuse, will stimulate our economy by immediately reducing delays and thereby allowing for smooth and rapid movement of people and goods throughout the state.”

The High Speed Rail New York Coalition is comprised of mayors, chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations from major metropolitan areas across Upstate New York.

It represents over 13,000 businesses that employ in excess of one million Upstate workers. The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Association of Central New York partner to manage this Coalition.

The Coalition strongly supports the implementation of High Speed Rail service throughout Upstate New York. This enhanced passenger rail service will offer expeditious, easy, and energy efficient travel linking Upstate New York with New York City and Canada.

A federally designated High Speed Rail corridor, this route will provide hassle free inter-city connections between Buffalo/Niagara, Rochester, Syracuse, Rome/Utica, Albany, and Plattsburgh and is a pivotal link connecting the Midwest High Speed Rail network with the East Coast.

The Coalition will be conducting educational workshops in each of the major Upstate cities to help local businesses and citizens tap into the numerous benefits that enhanced passenger rail can have on their region.

Rail transportation is the most efficient means of moving goods and people across land. One gallon of diesel fuel will move one ton of goods and/or people over 450 miles. Rail helps to reduce carbon footprints, positively combat climate change and discourage suburban sprawl.

High Speed Rail provides comfortable, punctual and productive travel options. Ultimately reaching speeds of 110 miles per hour, High Speed Rail vastly reduces travel time. High Speed Rail could reduce the travel time between Buffalo and Albany from five hours and 45 minutes to just under four hours.

By decreasing travel time, rail transportation allows for increased connectivity between metropolitan areas for business, urban and tourism development.

In New York alone, the Department of Transportation anticipates that 247,825 jobs will be created during the construction of rail service along the Empire Corridor.

U.S. Congressman Dan Maffei: “Upstate New York exists because of a historical commitment to transportation and infrastructure, and our future depends on our willingness to make a renewed effort in those areas. High speed rail is our opportunity to make that bold commitment. It is our Erie Canal of the 21st Century. This broad coalition of government and business leaders from across Upstate are here in Syracuse today because we have a shared vision of what our future can look like if we make the right investments now.”

U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter: “I’ve been a proponent of high speed rail for a long time; this started for me 22 years ago when I first tried to get a federal study looking into high speed rail for Upstate New York. Today we’re in a much better place. In Congress we’re ensuring that New York gets its fair share of federal rail funds and I’ve been working feverishly with Transportation Secretary LaHood, the Federal Rail Administration, and the White House on this very issue. I’m pleased we’ve come together as New Yorkers united in a purpose for our common good. With a vision of the economic benefits to come, our efforts to make high speed rail across the great state of New York are only beginning.”

U.S. Congressman Michael Arcuri: “I am pleased to join my colleagues in government and business as a part of the High Speed Rail New York Coalition to promote and move ahead with our plans for high speed rail across New York State. While I am confident that this high speed rail line will help the statewide