Published: January 26, 2009 12:55 am      

POLITICS: Congresswoman touts high-speed rail to aid upstate economy.

The Upstate New York Congressional Caucus is going to bat for the “rest” of New York.

The bipartisan caucus, founded this month by veteran Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, represents the uniting of hard-pressed congressional districts from Buffalo to Albany.

Its 11 members remain part of the state caucus but are mindful the two groups’ interests are not always the same. Too often, when the question is what’s good for “New York,” the answers — and the federal dollars — involve Long Island.

Upstate is owed big time, Slaughter says, but it won’t be paid unless its representatives band together to collect. In forming the caucus, she’s asking each member to put their seniority, connections, skills and diverse knowledge to work on a common goal: Landing upstate line items in federal spending bills.

First up on the caucus’ to-do list: Making the pitch for development of high-speed rail from Buffalo to Albany. Meetings with key federal and state power brokers, to plant the seeds of possibility, already are under way.

On the topic of high speed rail driving upstate’s prospects, here’s this week’s Q&A with Louise Slaughter.



Question: There are dozens of different projects the caucus could get behind for upstate. Why high-speed rail first?

Answer: First, because we have a serious lack of transportation options upstate; and the fact that it would enliven the economy, create a lot of jobs and benefit all of upstate. ... We want an east-west track for high-speed rail. It’s efficient and it’s green. It’s impossible to fly from western and central New York to Albany; if we’re all driving, that’s polluting. We want to do this in a green way.

We’ve already met with (Minnesota Congressman) Jim Oberstar, chairman of the transportation and infrastructure committee, and he is very enthused.

There is geothermal energy across the northern (part of the) state that we can tap into for high-speed rail. If we can tap into that green power, we’ll have a leg up in Congress. No other state can. ... Then, later, we hope to expand (service) to Montreal and Toronto. That takes in a large part of the population of North America.

There are a number of things we need to worry about: First, the configuration of the track and the fact that we’d share track that belongs to CSX. It hauls all of our freight, and that’s very important. ... We’d want to strengthen the concrete ties, do away with grade crossings — those are far too dangerous — and straighten out some of the problems with the railway, on our way to high-speed, which we expect would be 200 mph. The value is you can do your business in Albany and be back home at night.

Congressman Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) is a great addition to our caucus because he spent 20 years on the (state Assembly) transportation committee. ... We’re all very dedicated to doing this. We’ve got the know-how and power possibilities. We could be the first in the nation to build something like this. We’re looking at it as the new Erie Canal.

•••

Q: What other projects is the caucus considering going after?

A: I’m anxious to work on cargo out of the Niagara Falls airport. That will allow manufacturers to ship goods to Europe and Asia, and avoid the ports of New York and Halifax where there’s been such holdups for manufacturing.

We’re also looking at energy — and not being very parochial about it. We’re saying if it benefits upstate, it’s good.

•••

Q: Every town, city and county is making lists of things they’d like federal money for, but New York as a whole is only going to get so much. Is the caucus looking for smaller units of government to back off and let the money flow to bigger regional projects?

A: Not really. There’s money in the stimulus package specifically for rail. For the last 30 years, only 4 percent of transportation money has gone to rail. That’s outrageous. Rail is so important to our national security. Most cities worldwide have had high-speed rail for years; they spent on it (while) we spent on war. ...

Of the (municipal) lists emerging, though, I have to tell you, some of it is so unrealistic. I’ve been going over it with the governor’s office. Sidewalks are important but they shouldn’t be part of a stimulus package. We’re wanting to know how many jobs (these projects) are going to create. ... The best way to get people working again quickly is to invest in infrastructure. Heaven knows, we need it.

•••

Q: New York state keeps losing population and, therefore, clout in Congress. What impact can the upstate caucus really have when power has shifted south and west?

A: That’s one of the concerns. We’re not going to be able to increase population sufficiently to keep up from losing one to two members of Congress in the next reapportionment. ... But we’ve been neglected. When you think of Western New York and what it’s done for the world, all the wonderful things it’s contributed — the Erie Canal and westward expansion, Kodak and all it’s done — we should not have to take a back seat.

We’re determined to get what we deserve. We’ve got the best labor force in the world, fresh water and the possibility of cheap power. We’ll package it all together and ride forward.