“Viable passenger rail is essential to achieve a balanced intermodal transportation system,” Senator Smith said. “High-speed rail offers the opportunity to alleviate traffic congestion; provides land use planning alternatives; provides an alternative to highways and air travel during periods of national crisis; addresses environmental concerns and reduces dependence on foreign oil.”
“High-speed rail represents opportunity in Upstate New York at a time when we need it most,” Senator Valesky said. “Like the Erie Canal 200 years ago, a statewide high-speed rail system has the potential to revolutionize the entire state.”
Senator Smith outlined his three part approach to building a High Speed Rail system in New York State which includes:
1. Establishing a High-Speed Rail Authority to operate the system and raise money to ensure its success: specifically, to provide matching funds for federal grants, continue the environmental and engineering work to prepare for the new high speed rail corridor and then, to build the line.
2. Convening a statewide High-Speed Rail Public Private Partnership ("P3") Council to achieve public-private collaboration in funding high speed rail. Led by former Comptroller Carl McCall, the State Asset Maximization Commission has outlined the key principles of public-private partnerships in modern economies. New York State will apply those principles specifically to developing high-speed rail.
3. Establishing a bipartisan High-Speed Rail Business Council to promote awareness of high-speed rail and to advocate for its construction. Exceptional strides have been made by the Regional Plan Association and the New York State High Speed Rail Coalition to build these relationships.
Impact studies conducted by the New York High Speed Rail Coalition, have found that High Speed Rail for the Empire Corridor (NYC-Buffalo) would create approximately 250,000 immediate jobs during the construction phase and another 1.7 million jobs upon completion as labor markets are bolstered in the Rochester-Syracuse areas and Buffalo-Niagara Falls area.
Studies also revealed that High Speed Rail would reduce the carbon footprint and decrease traffic congestion. Carbon emissions per passenger mile traveled are much lower for those commuting via passenger rail compared to automobile or airline. One gallon of diesel fuel will move one ton of goods or people over 450 miles.
On April 9, 2010, Senator Smith and his co-chair of the High Speed Rail Working Group of the National Conference of Legislatures, Senator Dennis Nolan of Nevada, will conduct a hearing in Washington D.C. to take testimony from national stakeholders in the national HSR movement. This will serve as the foundation for national HSR policy for the Conference of Legislatures. Senator Smith will lead the lobbying effort on its behalf.
A regional High Speed Rail conference will be held in New York State in the fall in partnership with the New York State High Speed Rail Coalition, the Regional Plan Association and the United States High Speed Rail Association.
