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Daniel Defalco urges Ulster County to back West Shore passenger rail feasibility study
Summary
Daniel Defalco, founder of All Aboard Hudson Valley, told the Ulster County Housing & Transportation Committee a modern feasibility study of the CSX West Shore corridor could connect communities west of the Hudson, reduce roadway congestion and support housing and economic development; he noted prior studies, freight volumes and growing local support.
Daniel Defalco, founder of All Aboard Hudson Valley, told the Ulster County Housing & Transportation Committee on June 4 that the CSX West Shore corridor deserves a modern feasibility study to assess the prospects for passenger rail service. "The Westshore passenger rail corridor represents one of the most significant transportation opportunities available to our region," Defalco said, urging the county to join local governments asking New York State to fund updated analysis.
Defalco framed the proposal as a study—not a commitment to construction—calling for analysis of operating options, station locations and infrastructure upgrades needed to allow passenger service to coexist with existing freight operations. He told the committee the corridor already carries freight and that daily freight volumes generally range "from approximately 10 to 25 trains per day," meaning potential service concepts would need to address track capacity and crossings.
Why it matters: Defalco said reintroducing passenger rail along the West Shoreline could connect residents of Rockland, Orange and Ulster counties to jobs, education and health care without driving to East-of-Hudson stations, and could support downtown revitalization, housing access and the region's tourism economy. He pointed to the 2001–2003 New Jersey Transit/Federal Transit Administration study that found strong projected ridership and feasible infrastructure upgrades, and noted that new federal funding programs and state planning pathways make a fresh evaluation timely.
Defalco said his group has secured formal support from 13 local governments so far and that Kingston recently became the first municipality in Ulster County to adopt a resolution calling for a study. He described the county role as asking the state to evaluate whether the corridor is still viable under current conditions, not selecting routes or committing local funds. "This resolution does not commit any local funding. It does not approve construction. It does not predetermine an outcome," he said.
Committee members asked technical and funding questions. Legislator Bardi pressed on crossings and quiet zones, raising local complaints about noise and asking that the study identify pre-existing safety and noise problems and recommend mitigations; Defalco described quiet-zone measures and noted many crossings would need upgrades. Legislator Gman asked about study cost and funding pathways; Defalco said an approximately $200,000 inclusion appeared in a Senate one-house budget proposal and that the study could also be funded through regional planning authorities, federal transit grants or congressional engagement.
A few members asked about equipment and environmental impacts. Defalco said typical service would use diesel-electric locomotives but that final equipment and emissions outcomes would depend on the chosen operator and procurement; he emphasized that steel-wheel rail is efficient on a per-passenger-mile basis.
Next steps: Defalco asked Ulster County to consider joining the coalition of local governments requesting a modern feasibility study and to use the study to determine whether the corridor could support long-term regional mobility and economic goals.
