Local railroad approved for $1.1 million state grant
Photo by Tom Rivers: Genesee Valley Transportation parked a train on the tracks in Holley next to the Holley Cold Storage in this photo from Aug. 26, 2014.
BATAVIA – The Falls Road Railroad, which runs from Lockport through Orleans County to Brockport, has been approved for $1.1 million in state funding.
The railroad, which is owned Genesee Valley Transportation in Batavia, plans to use the funds to upgrade a multi-modal facility in Lockport and replace railroad ties along the system.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the funds for GVT on Wednesday, part of $25 million in rail and port improvement projects across New York.
The grants, awarded through the Governor’s Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program, will support projects that strengthen infrastructure and economic development vital to the movement of goods throughout the state, Cuomo said.
“These grants will help strengthen New York’s infrastructure, attract new investments, and foster economic growth in communities in every corner of the state,” Cuomo said. “A strong, reliable transportation system is critical to supporting safe, efficient travel for both New Yorkers and visitors, and our investments are key to ensuring the long-term resiliency of infrastructure across the state to support economic growth for generations to come.”
The $25 million will support track rehabilitation, capacity expansion, railroad bridge repairs, and economic development opportunities. An additional $5.4 million in private and local funding is being leveraged through this state initiative, Cuomo said.
