Senator Cooney Advocates for High Speed Rail

(ALBANY, NY) - Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) led a discussion on high speed rail during a joint budget hearing on transportation. 

Watch the video here

Senator Cooney and NYS Department of Transportation Commissioner Therese Dominguez discussed the potential economic benefits of investment in high speed rail to allow for easier travel between upstate cities like Rochester, and the New York City Metropolitan area. Senator Cooney is the Chairman of the Upstate Cities Committee, and has been a longtime advocate of a High Speed Rail system. 

The Senator is a co-sponsor of S5607A (Kennedy), which would establish an exploratory state commission to study the benefits and implications of establishing a high speed rail system in New York. 

Senator Jeremy Cooney: 

Now is the time for New York to invest in high speed rail. My former boss, U.S. Congresswoman Louse Slaughter was one of the first proponents of this project, and over 25 years later, with new federal infrastructure dollars, we finally have a unique opportunity to bring her vision to fruition. We must connect our state in a way that will economically uplift both upstate cities along the thruway corridor and New York City. I thank Commissioner Dominguez and NYS DOT for their partnership, and look forward to working with my colleagues in the senate as we advocate for the advancement of this project.”

 Senator Cooney’s Conversation with Commissioner Dominguez can be Viewed Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfnb4DhLJpI

Senate Bill S5607A can be found here: 

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s5607