ALBANY — New York state is getting nearly $150 million in federal transportation funding aimed at upgrading passenger service in Amtrak’s Empire Corridor.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says more than $91 million will go toward adding a 17-mile second track between Albany and Schenectady, where the existing single track owned by CSX is shared by Amtrak and freight trains.

Another $58 million will fund track and platform improvements at the Albany-Rensselaer and Schenectady stations, as well as the relocation of signal wires on the Hudson Line south of Albany.

The projects are part of the state’s effort to boost high-speed rail service in New York, including trains traveling between Albany and the Buffalo region.

Construction on the projects is expected to start in late summer 2012.

 

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