This just in from Krys Cail, via the Human Services Coalition listserv: Air Travel, Passenger Rail Travel, Federal Support Changes, Local Effects and Local Support Wednesday, July 2, 2008 12:56 PM From: "Krys Cail" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Add sender to Contacts To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I'm always very pleased to read Nancy Burston's reports of County Legislature meetings, which are well-written and thorough. I am concerned, however, that the most recent report may inadvertantly give a misimpression, when Nancy reports that "As an enterprise unit, the airport is self-funded, with no government funding." What Nancy means here, I am quite certain, is that the airport receives no direct COUNTY government funding. This is technically the case, although the time and attention of the legislature and County administrative personnel handling such items as awarding contracts for the recent three-quarters of a million dollars in capital funding from the federal government (and the value of the very-large acreage and buildings that pay no real estate taxes) certainly could be considered as indirect local governmental support. The aviation industry and airports receive very substantial governmental subsidies at the federal and (to a much lesser extent) state level. As many on this list work with populations that may find the cost of air travel prohibitively expensive (or difficult from a health or disability standpoint), but may still have the need to travel out-of-town from time to time, I thought I would take this opportunity to update the list on some recent positive changes in governmental and business support for further development of an alternative transportation mode, passenger rail, that could bring some new options to our area. The Tompkins County area's sincere interest in reducing carbon footprint may even make passenger rail of interest to those who can afford to travel by car or airplane, but would prefer to use a greener alternative. Recent developments on the federal, state and local level aimed at providing more rail travel options may be of interest. I am aware of these changes due to my participation in the Rt. 81 Rail Corridor Committee, and would be willing to answer any questions on this material off-list. With the escalating cost of auto and airplane travel, Amtrak ridership has increased markedly, putting pressure on the federal government to expand and improve services. Just recently, the House of Representatives passed a new bill, by a veto-proof bipartisan majority, that marks a new era in federal support for passenger rail infrastructure development and improvement. This bill-- The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008-- is a close match to a Senate bill passed earlier, and just a few differences are to be worked out in conference. The bipartisan support suggests that this will not be difficult. Both of our local Congressmen are active supporters of passenger rail development for our area, but, in particular, Congressman Michael Arcuri was instrumental in adding an amendment to the bill in committee that focuses attention on NYS's rail needs. Read more on this at: http://arcuri.house.gov/list/press/ny24_arcuri/AmtrakReauthorization.html . Additionally, our NYS Senators, working in a bipartisan regional effort with the Senators from PA and NJ, have secured federal funding for an Amtrak ridership study to evaluate the potential market for establishing an Amtrak inter-city rail service between Binghamton and Scranton, or perhaps Syracuse-Cortland-Binghamton -Scranton. Given the almost-to-construction-phase plans for a Scranton-NYC passenger rail line, this would allow for a Binghamton-NYC or Cortland-NYC train trip that was time-competitive with air travel (including the taxi or public transit trip from the airport to Manhattan). That study has now commenced, and a report is due within a year. Media reports on that are available at: http://www.wbng.com/news/local/19185349.html and http://www.newschannel34.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=78d020c7-1ae1-4fc1-8e78-baed2359eb69 On the NYS State level, the NYS Dept. of Transportation has been very actively working on the development of a NYS Draft Rail Plan, an effort that has not been done for the past 22 years, and has a 20-year planning horizon. Our region does receive some attention in the draft document, which potentially sets the stage for us to access the 80/20 federal match funding for new route development that is in the federal legislation. More on the NYS Draft Rail Plan is at: http://www.nysdot.gov/draftrailplan2008/ Public comment on this plan is being accepted through July 18-- if you work with a population that could benefit from expanded passenger rail services in our area, you might consider writing a letter, as Tompkins County presence at the public hearing held on this in Binghamton was almost non-existent (many neighboring counties were represented, though). Finally, on a local level, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce came on-board just last week in support of more passenger rail options in our region. While the human services community may see the quality-of-life aspects that more rail travel options provide residents, the Chamber is also cognizant of the economic development potential of an expanded travel modality that could bring additional tourism to Tompkins County. The text of their June 25 resolution follows: Whereas - the availability of Amtrak passenger rail service in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions of NYS would enhance tourism and business travel opportunities in Tompkins County And - there is currently underway a study by Amtrak to assess potential passenger market for an intercity passenger rail route extending from Scranton to the North up the Rt. 81 corridor through the Binghamton gateway into NYS And - good and timely progress is being made in plans in PA and NJ to redevelop a commuter rail service between Scranton and Hoboken, making possible a Binghamton-NYC or Cortland-NYC passenger rail route within the foreseeable future And - the US Senate and House of Representatives have each passed Amtrak funding bills which provide 80-20 federal matching funds to states for developing rail infrastructure And - the NY State Department of Transportation has included only a very rudimentary Economic Development section in its NYS Rail Plan, focused primarily on existing tax-abatement programs for freight rail lines and proposed inland port development And - increased passenger rail route options for major-market urban residents and international tourists traveling between NYC and Toronto (and Canada), and Buffalo (and points West through the Chicago Amtrak hub) has the potential to introduce a large number of potential tourists to the scenic beauty of our region, spurring significant indirect economic benefit And - escalating costs of fuel, plus an interest in pursuing more environmentally friendly travel options for business and pleasure, have resulted in higher rail passenger ridership in recent years Therefore be it resolved that the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce supports the efforts of business, government and community groups in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes Regions to urge NYS governments and Amtrak to consider with great seriousness the feasibility of redeveloping a passenger rail route from Scranton to Syracuse, with station stops in both Cortland and Binghamton. And let it further resolve to notify our representatives in the federal and state governments about our support. -- Krys Cail 3110 DuBois Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 342-5679 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
