Sadly under the Pataki Administration New York State fell well behind ten or so other states that were busy building effective state-Amtrak partnerships for improved train service. While the Spitzer Administration and its DOT Commissioner are talking the right language on working with Amtrak, long discussed infrastructure improvements in the Hudson Valley and in the greater Albany area are moving at a glacial pace. The state is also facing a notable shortage of available seats on Amtrak trains in the Hudson Valley on weekends and around peak holiday periods.

Certainly Moynihan East and West stations are a critical piece of the national passenger rail network and deserve strong federal support, but other improvements in NY State also need attention.