Bringing high-speed rail to Upstate New York is one of Rep. Slaughter's highest priorities. The improvement of existing tracks and the creation of a third track dedicated to passenger rail will allow people to move efficiently back and forth across the upstate region, improve commerce, generate new tourism opportunities and spark revitalization in our region for years to come.

Rep. Slaughter has led meetings with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Congressional leaders, representatives from Governor Paterson’s office, the N.Y. Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, and CSX to bring high-speed rail to Upstate New York.

The first batch of applications by New York State for High Speed Rail funding was announced in August. Funds included in these applications specific to Western New York include:

• $58.1 million for the final design and construction of an initial section of a dedicated third passenger track on the Empire Corridor in the Rochester area;
• $48.6 million for the design and construction of high-level platforms and track realignment at the Rochester passenger rail station to accommodate high-speed rail;
• $32.1 million for signal improvements along Niagara branch tracks, which run from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, Erie County;
• $22.4 million for rail infrastructure improvements required to relocate Amtrak’s Niagara Falls passenger station on Lockport Road to the renovated 1863 Customs House, located near the Whirlpool Bridge on Whirlpool Street in Niagara Falls;
• $6.1 million for improving safety of highway/railroad grade crossings at 22 locations on the Empire Corridor from Erie County east to Schenectady County; and
• $1.6 million for preliminary engineering of another section of a dedicated, third passenger track in Rochester.

In October, New York State applied for an additional $11.6 billion to improve high-speed rail service from Niagara Falls to New York City.

Rep. Slaughter formed the Upstate Caucus to advocate for Western and Upstate New York, and members of the caucus have pushed for high speed rail funding for the region. The FY 2010 funding bill contains over $4.5 million for high speed rail in upstate.

The High Speed Rail New York Coalition released a Statement of Regional Impact, analyzing the benefits of bring high speed rail to New York.