29 Jan 2024
Public Hearing: To examine passenger rail within New York State, the “90B” rail improvement plan adopted by the State Department of Transportation, areas for service improvement, and the possible adoption of high-speed rail
Legislative Office BuildingVan Buren Hearing Room A, 2nd Fl. 182 State Street , Albany, NY, 12247
10:00 AM Archived Video
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation
Chair: Senator Timothy M. Kennedy
Public Hearing: To examine passenger rail within New York State, the “90B” rail improvement plan adopted by the State Department of Transportation, areas for service improvement, and the possible adoption of high-speed rail
Place: Van Buren Hearing Room A, Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Contact: Rick Rodgers (716) 826-2683
Media Contact: Molly Hirschbeck (716) 480-2517
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY
SUBJECT: To examine the state of inter-city passenger rail in New York State.
PURPOSE: Hearing to examine the current state of passenger rail, comparisons with other states, examination of future plans including the state’s “90B” passenger rail improvement plan, and discussing how to implement high speed rail in the future.
This public hearing will examine the current state of passenger rail in New York and suggest solutions to improve the system in the future, including, but not limited to, examining High Speed Rail’s feasibility within the state. New York’s passenger rail is often unreliable, with frequent delays and speeds slower than comparable states and nations. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is providing funds to improve passenger rail nationwide, yet New York has not received much, if any, funding for improvement. Additionally, the current preferred state plan for improvement would cost billions of dollars, take decades to fully implement, while eventually only improving speeds to 90 mph. By comparison, projects in other states propose trains capable of 200 mph. This hearing will examine the current state of inter-city passenger rail, proposals to improve service and time, and the feasibility of true High Speed Rail in the state.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Transportation Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.
Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes’ duration. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Transportation Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
Attendees and participants at any legislative public hearing should be aware that these proceedings are video recorded. Their likenesses may be included in any video coverage shown on television or the internet.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Transportation Committee, in accordance with the Senate’s policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to State Legislature facilities and activities.
