Back Fund Request For A Greener Fleet
Civics United for Railroad and Environmental Solutions (CURES) applauded a funding request introduced in the Assembly seeking $17 million in the state budget to replace the oldest freight trains in the state with new green Tier 3 locomotives.
As noted, the request is supported by Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, 43 other Assembly members and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall.
CURES noted that freight locomotives owned by the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and MTA and licensed to be used by New York and Atlantic Railway are noisy, old and high-polluting engines considered to be Tier 0 under the EPA’s rating system for such trains.
The appropriation, if approved, will play for replacement of this old freight fleet with all new, cleaner, quieter, Tier 3 locomotives.
“Every level of government has made policies and plans to use more freight rail and fewer trucks. But because they did this without updating the locomotive technology, more use of rail means excessive noise and pollution for communities along the tracks,” said CURES Co-Chair Mary Parisen in a statement.
The expansion of freight rail in the New York City region is dependent on these old trains, according to CURES. Brookhaven Rail Terminal, Calverton Rail Spur, Cross Harbor Float, and the South Brooklyn Rail Terminal Extension all rely on on these “Legacy Fleet” locomotives. New York City relies on them to export municipal waste from the Varick Avenue and Review Avenue trash transfer stations. They haul “construction and demolition” debris from Nassau County. They haul debris from Hurricane Sandy.
Parisen added, “These locomotives are like classic cars. They are are too old be be subject to Clean Air Act rules that apply to newer locomotives. The NYC region absolutely depends on them. The state can spend $17M to do this.”
She went on to note, “The elected leaders who replace these filthy, noisy old trains will be city, state, and national heroes.”
