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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmpire Service - RR1220 Washington Avenue, State Campus, Albany, New York 12232 August 20, 1979 ~ NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT~F TRANSPORTATION William C. Hennessy, Commissioner ~OVVN OF SOUTHOLD Albert W. Martocchia, Supervisor Town of Southold PO Box 728 S. Uthoid, NY 11971 Dear Mr. Martocchia: In 1974, New York State faced a major crisis - its rail network was falling into disrepair; railroad companies were involved in bankruptcy; and federal planners designing a new Northeast rail network were calling for the abandonment of 639 miles of track within the State. If nothing had been done, rail service would have been virtually destroyed with irreparable damage done to the economy of the State. To meet this challenge, the people of New York voted to furnish $250 million, in the form of bonds, to ensure the preservation of essential rail services. This program has been successful. Essential freight services have been maintained; not one New York State business was lost due to a lack of rail transportation. The quality of intercity passenger service has not only been maintained but, because of the comitment of the State, has been improved with the addition of modern, reliable equipment, extended service and - this Fall - institution of the nation's first high-speed rail service. What originated as stop-gap measures has blossomed into an economic shot in the arm for New York State. In addition to maintaining rail services, improvements provided by Bond funds have so enhanced the attractiveness of the State to rail-dependent businesses that many have located new plants in the State or invested in the expansion of the existing plants. Having halted and reversed the decline of our fuel-efficient rail network, we must continue that momentum with further investments to increase the capacity of the system. For this reason, the Governor and the Legislature have recommended the Energy Conservation Through Improved Transportation Bond Act of 1979 to the voters of New York State. This Act will provide $400 ~illion to be used on mass transit and railroad improvements and $100 million to correct the very serious problem of rapidly deteriorating county, town and village roads. When combined with Federal, local and private money, the Bond Act will provide nearly one billion dollars to invest in energy-conserving transportation projects. This Bond is of particular importance to all the communities of New York since it provides for the continued repair and improvement of the State's entire rail network. It will make possible further track improvements in the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse-Utica corridor, across the Southern Tier and in the Syracuse-Watertown-Massena corridor; it will improve service on the branchlines and shortlines that are the transportation life lines of many businesses in New York; it will provide further improvements in Amtrak passenger service by rehabilitating additional stations, removing speed restrictions and extending the high-speed "Empire Service". To inform you about the Energy Conservation Through Improved Transportation Bond we have included material explaining what the program will accomplish and answering a number of questions about the Bond Act. To assist further in explaining the bond program, we would be pleased to meet with you or your group. Please write or call Mr. Edward Malia of Bond Information Task Force at (518) 457-1903 to work out the scheduling. Public approval of the proposed Bond Act is essential if we are to continue improvements to our rail system which will insure the economic growth and social progress of New York State. We need your support. Thank you. Sincerely, Commissioner enc.