(The following story by Cathy Woodruff appeared on the Albany Times-Union website on January 31.)
RENSSELAER, N.Y. — A fourth track dropped from construction plans for Rensselaer Rail Station because of rising costs is back — with a $10 million price tag and hopes it will reduce delays for Amtrak passengers.
The Capital District Transportation Authority board approved a contract Wednesday with the state Department of Transportation for the project that will include new switching equipment, an additional track along the west side of the station, demolishing two old Amtrak station buildings and expanding parking lots.
Having only three tracks for trains waiting at the station creates delays for Amtrak riders several times a week.
It’s not unusual for a train from New York City to be made late because it has to stop just south of the station until a track and platform are available.
The funding for the project comes from a $22 million state rail improvement package announced in September by state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, R-Brunswick.
Other work planned to speed trains between New York City and Albany includes stabilizing a rock slope near the George Washington Bridge and track improvements in Hudson.
The fourth track was part of the original plan for the Rensselaer station that opened in September 2002.
But as work to move tracks, rebuild the Herrick Street bridge and carry out other portions of the job swelled the original $34 million cost to a final price of $53.1 million, installing the fourth track and other related work was pushed off.
“It came down to money,” said CDTA board member Wayne Pratt, who chairs the committee that oversaw construction of the station and now oversees its operation.
Before construction can begin, CDTA and Amtrak need to complete a contract to transfer Amtrak-owned property, which includes the land occupied by the two old stations, to the transit authority.
CDTA will demolish the old stations to make way for the new track and expanded parking and extend two station platforms and canopies. The work could begin as soon as next year, state DOT spokeswoman Carol Breen said.
Moving and upgrading a switching gear box owned by CSX Railroad is one of the most complex parts of the job, and it is not clear how long it will take, Breen said.
“We have to make sure that whatever we do to these signals is consistent with other signals,” she said. “That is a more involved process than it might sound like.”