DOT eliminates 27 positions as part of a state mandate to cut costs

Rick Karlin reports in today’s Times Union – “While state employees worry about potential layoffs due to consolidations and the possible rejection of a labor deal, companies that provide outside contractors to New York’s agencies are already following state ord
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Business Council supports Innovative Infrastructure Development Act

This bill would provide state agencies and authorities with increased flexibility in the contracting and financing of transportation infrastructure projects. It would allow a wider variety of arrangements with the private sector than available under current law. The Business Council s
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Utilizing Public-Private Partnerships to fund transportation infrastructure projects

Testimony to the Senate Standing Committee on Transportation Utilizing Public-Private Partnerships to fund Transportation infrastructure projects in New York State Presented by Heather Briccetti Acting President & CEO The Business Council of New York State, Inc. Date: May 16, 201
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Northeast rail corridor gets $795 million from feds to speed up trains

“Train trips in the Washington-New York-Boston corridor would speed up with $795 million the U.S. government awarded for rail projects — the largest share of $2 billion across the country, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today.” writes Ken Valenti on LoHud.
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Business is critical of Republican change to Highway Trust Fund rules

In a letter to Republican House leaders, business leaders from across the country express their concern with proposed changes to the House rules by the GOP which would make it easier for Congress to delay spending money from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). The HTF is funded solely by ga
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New York gets piece of redirected high-speed rail aid

Joseph Spector writes in the Ithaca Journal – “The decision by Wisconsin and Ohio to forgo federal high-speed rail money will mean a boost for New York, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday. The $1.195 billion in high-speed rail funds originally desi
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MTA payroll tax wraps up first year

Businesses still upset over new charges Judy Rife writes in the Times Herald-Record – “After a bumpy first year, the new payroll tax that the state levied to support the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is living up to expectations and becoming an integral part of the
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State DOT Schedules Meetings on High Speed Rail Initiative

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), will hold six public meetings across the state beginning Oct. 19th in Buffalo to discuss plans to improve passenger rail service. The meetings are the initial scopi
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Marcellus Shale: Rail benefits from development of Marcellus Shale

With development of the Marcellus Shale continuing to swell in Pennsylvania, the need for railroad expansion is being addressed. Rail can transport commodities like tons of sand used for hydraulic fracturing and pipe more efficiently than transporting by road. The hilly terrain in par
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Where the MTA should be saving

In a New York Postopinion column Nicole Gelinas of The Manhattan Institute details where the MTA should be looking for savings. She writes: “At next week’s public MTA hearings on its proposed token-booth closings and other customer-service reduc tions, city and state lawma
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