In preparation for Upstate New York's high speed rail line, which will run from Buffalo to Albany, the Syracuse rail station has been granted $18 million dollars from the federal government to make improvements necessary for the shift. Such improvements include a new low-level/high-level platform, an elevator and a pedestrian bridge at William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center; allowing freight trains to completely bypass the station on separate tracks. Improvements will also be made at the CSX DeWitt yards to reduce passenger/freight train congestion.The new rail has goals of increasing speeds from 79 mph to 110 mph in the short term and eventually to 150 mph, shaving significant time off of the current route. Upstate New York is one of 11 high speed rail corridors nationwide established by the federal government.
For more information refer to the Post-Standard article at http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/syracuse_rail_station_to_recei.html.
