DiSalvo with Balfour Beatty Communities Assistant
Community Manager, Eileen Marks
ALBANY – An inspection of CSX mainline tracks on the West Shore rail line between Newburgh and Haverstraw has resulted in the identification of some issues. The inspection, along with others in different areas of the state, was prompted by Governor Cuomo, who called on the state Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration to take a look following train derailments and crude oil tank car leakages, explosions and fires in recent months.
In the 22 miles inspected between Newburgh and Haverstraw, two switches were inspected with one found to have a critical defect – deteriorated cross ties along a short section of track. That has since been repaired. The inspectors also found four non-critical defects, including loose switch bolts and insufficient ballast.
The governor has proposed a number of protective measures for New York to take as a result of the boom in crude oil transportation including hiring 14 more employees dedicated to oil spill planning, training and response; increasing fees for oil transported through New York; increasing the oil spill response and prevention fund by 60 percent; moving the administration of the fund from the comptroller’s office to the DEC; establishing the New York State Foal Task Force; and coordinating state, local and industry planning and preparedness.
