(The following story by Jerry Zremski appeared on the Buffalo News website on May 10, 2010.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ninety miles an hour isn’t exactly high speed when it comes to rail service — but that’s just how fast New York state agreed to run its high-speed rail line across upstate New York.
So now, the state is pushing for a 110-mph limit. It is trying to extract itself from that part of its deal with CSX Corp., which owns the right of way for the planned high-speed track from the Albany area to Buffalo.
The resulting dispute between the state and CSX threatens to derail the entire upstate high- speed rail project — but to prevent that, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Friday assigned a top federal rail official to try to resolve the issue.
Karen Rae, deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, will work on the speed limit dispute, as well as another troublesome aspect of the state deal with CSX in which the state agreed to a 30-foot gap between the high-speed line and the company’s freight tracks.
In some spots, the right of way is not even 30 feet wide — meaning that to build the high-speed line, homes would have to be taken or underpasses moved, sources close to the project said.
Officials from the federal and state transportation departments, as well as from CSX and Amtrak, met Friday in LaHood’s office at the behest of Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, the Fairport Democrat who has spearheaded congressional efforts to fund high-speed rail in the region.
“I promised Congresswoman Slaughter that FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae will work with the state and do whatever it takes to make high-speed rail happen for New York,” LaHood said after the meeting.
Slaughter, meanwhile, said she was thrilled that Rae — who was the state’s top rail official before moving to Washington — would be devoted full time to resolving the disagreement.
“This is exactly what we need on this project,” said Slaughter. “I think having the U.S. DOT in there, it’s going to get done right away,” she said.
The meeting in LaHood’s office culminated a chaotic period of weeks for New York’s high-speed rail effort, which won a disappointing $151 million in federal funding when the Obama administration announced $8.5 billion in high-speed rail grants in late January.
The state’s top high-speed rail official, Ann Purdue, resigned in late April. Purdue could not be reached to comment, but sources said she left out of anger that other state officials were now demanding that the deal with CSX be altered.
But some federal officials privately expressed concerns that 90 miles an hour — short of the 110 miles per hour the state original planned for — would be too slow for the high-speed line.
CSX argued that the lower speed and the 30-foot gap were necessary for safety reasons. But Slaughter and Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., both said New York never should have agreed to such CSX demands.
New York “tied itself in knots” by signing the CSX agreement, said Schumer, who harshly criticized the state DOT’s high-speed efforts.
“It’s a comedy of errors, except it’s too serious,” said Schumer.
On Friday, though, both the state and CSX expressed a willingness to try to work out their differences.
“We are grateful to Congresswoman Louise Slaughter for convening today’s meeting and to Secretary LaHood for his unwavering commitment to New York’s high-speed passenger rail program,” said acting state Transportation Secretary Stanley Gee. “Today’s discussions are another illustration of the ongoing discussions and collaboration between all the involved parties to move the high-speed passenger rail program forward in New York State.”
Meanwhile, CSX spokesman Robert Sullivan issued a statement saying: “CSX looks forward to continuing to work with New York and all stakeholders to enhance freight and passenger rail service. We believe that there is a path forward to complete New York’s stimulus projects in a safe and efficient manner. To that end, CSX will continue to assist New York’s development and implementation of projects.”
The $151 million in federal high-speed money is targeted toward preliminary work on a third track between Rochester and Batavia and construction of a second track between Schenectady and Albany, as well as track improvements between Albany and Montreal. The Depew and Rochester train stations also will be renovated to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Schumer, who earlier this week sent a letter to the heads of the state DOT and CSX urging them to come to an agreement, said he was worried that if a deal isn’t struck soon, the state’s $151 million in high-speed money could be jeopardized.
But Slaughter said the money is secure and the project’s future looks bright, in part because LaHood has been such a supporter of high-speed rail in upstate New York.
“The secretary has just been great,” she said. “In large measure, where New York state needs bolstering up or help, it’s going to come.”