Kelly Advocates for Stewart Airport Rail Link at Congressional Hearing
Kelly Advocates for Stewart Airport Rail Link at Congressional Hearing
At a House Transportation Committee hearing today analyzing nationwide intermodal needs, U.S. Congresswoman Sue Kelly pushed for federal assistance with plans to develop a rail connection to Stewart International Airport.
"The development of a rail link at Stewart International Airport in Orange County, New York will have tremendous benefit to intermodal service in the Hudson Valley," Kelly stressed to a Department of Transportation official testifying at the hearing.
Kelly, a senior member of the Committee, secured a $100 million authorization to help construct a Stewart rail link by writing a federal funding provision into the Transportation Equity Act that passed Congress and was signed into law last year.
"We're closing in on a year since President Bush signed it into law, and we're still waiting for direction from Washington on the next step," Kelly noted at the hearing. "We need to start planning so that work on the development of this rail link can begin."
New York State, Metro North, the Port Authority, and Stewart officials are developing a rail link plan. At the hearing, Kelly gained a commitment from the DOT official that the federal agency will partner in the planning effort.
"I hope that you will proactively collaborate with all of the stakeholders involved in making this rail link a reality," Kelly said. "Can you provide today for my constituents some assurances that the U.S. DOT will make the development of the rail link at Stewart a reality by coming up to my district and meeting with them and participating in the planning process?"
The Transportation Undersecretary responded, "I commit to you, Congresswoman, that someone will come, and that someone might be yours truly. I'm not familiar with all of the details and I'm looking forward to hearing a lot more about it.
As you describe it, it sounds like something we should be doing a lot of work with.
I'd like to participate in some meetings with your constituents."
After the hearing, Kelly said: "This intermodal project at Stewart is critical to the long-term vision for the airport and the region. The rail link will help stimulate local job growth, establish Stewart as the New York metropolitan area's fourth airport, and attract the kind of additional airlines that we've been seeking to help lower fares and increase travel options out of Stewart for Hudson Valley residents."
http://suekelly.house.gov/News.asp?ARTICLE3316=18648