PROJECTS
CapitalTrack and Bridge Rehabilitation Project
STERA had received NYS DOT PFRAP Act funds for the replacement of 8,000 linear feet of welded rail in Carrolton in Cattaraugus County, and the repair of three bridges in Jamestown, one bridge in Salamanca, and one bridge in Olean. All work except the Olean bridge is to be done on the Southern Tier Extension; the Olean bridge is on the Buffalo line. WNYP provided the required matching funds. The goal of the project is to improve safety and track speeds, which would further improve competitiveness of rail service. Further, the project is part of an overall strategy to raise the entire Southern Tier Extension Railroad and Buffalo lines to a 286,000 lb. capacity specification for 4-axle rail cars. The bridge repairs specifically are intended to improve safety related to bridge integrity (reducing impacts on pedestrians/highway vehicles). STERA contracted directly with WNYP for the provision of engineering, construction, and construction inspection services on this project (augmented by engineering review and inspection review by NYS DOT). WNYP will engage one or more third party private sector construction contractor(s) to provide certain construction services under sub-contract to WNYP; interested potential subcontractors may contact STERA and/or WNYP directly. The current timeline for the project is that the project will be completed in 2023. Tie and Rail Replacement Project STERA had received NYS DOT PFRAP Act funds for the replacement of 10,000 ties, replacement of some worn rail, and surfacing between Steamburg (Cattaraugus County) to Waterboro (Chautauqua County), between MP SA-14.00 (west of Steamburg) to MP SA-23.00 (Waterboro). The work would be done on the Southern Tier Extension Line. All the work would be completed by WNYP and its subcontractors. The goal of the project is to improve safety and track speeds, which would further improve competitiveness of rail service. Further, the project is part of an overall strategy to raise the entire Southern Tier Extension Railroad and Buffalo lines to a 286,000 lb. capacity specification for 4-axle rail cars. The current timeline for the project is that the project will be completed in 2023. |
Olean Enginehouse and Yard Improvement Project
STERA had received NYS DOT PFRAP Act funds for improvements to the enginehouse in the Olean yard, installation of a yard video security system, the installation of 6,000 6x8 ties in the Olean yard, and the replacement of 8 switches in the Olean yard. The work would be done on the Southern Tier Extension Line. WNYP provided the required matching funds. The goal of the project is to improve safety and track speeds within the Olean Yard, which would further improve competitiveness of rail service. Further, the project is part of an overall strategy to raise the entire Southern Tier Extension Railroad and Buffalo lines to a 286,000 lb. capacity specification for 4-axle rail cars. The enginehouse improvements specifically are intended to improve safety and productivity related to operations within the enginehouse. The security system is intended to improve public safety and reduce vandalism. STERA contracted directly with WNYP for the provision of engineering, construction, and construction inspection services on this project (augmented by engineering review and inspection review by NYS DOT). WNYP will competitively procure and engage one or more third party private sector construction contractor(s) to provide certain construction services under sub-contract to WNYP. The current timeline for the project is that the project will be completed in 2023. |
Proposed Projects
Salamanca Main Street Bridge Replacement and Track Realignment Project
STERA, the City of Salamanca, and the Seneca Nation of Indians had met in the spring of 2017 to discuss replacement of the Salamanca Main Street rail bridge (replacing the 6 lane rail bridge with a two lane bridge, with higher clearance for Main Street underpass traffic) and the realignment of track just to the west of the bridge (re-routing of the main line in this area to remove the curvature of the line, which is a safety issue and which keeps train speeds down). Such a project (or at least the bridge replacement component) would be eligible for NYS DOT Bridge NY funding. STERA and WNYP hope to discuss the project further with the City and Seneca Nation of Indians. The project currently is in the pre-application planning stage. The project would have to be approved by the Seneca Nation of Indians for both the bridge and track realignment projects to move forward. There is no current timeline for the project.
Transload Facility Projects
In March, 2006, the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, using funding provided by NYSDOT, USDOC EDA, and WNYP, began a feasibility and site selection study relating to the phased construction and operation of rail-highway freight transfer facility to be located somewhere along the NYS portion of the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Line. The first phase was to involve construction of a transload facility, with potential future phases if justified by freight volume and market demand, to involve satellite marine terminal/inland port designation, intermodal container operations, and a nearby business or industrial park development. The study demonstrated commercial viability for the first phase transload facility and also recommended location of the transload facility at the WNYP rail yard in Allegany, New York (Cattaraugus County). This study report is available at www.southerntierwest.org/html/publications.htm. In January 2009, the Southern Tier West RP&DB, as part of the feasibility and site selection study project, undertook a preliminary engineering study for the construction of the proposed transload facility at the Allegany NY rail yard site. This engineering report, along with technical appendices, is available at ww.southerntierwest.org/html/publications.htm. Based upon these studies and the express indication by NYS DOT that it would encourage and help fund the construction of the first phase transload facility, STERA would like to undertake the project, either by (a) constructing and owning the facility, with operation to be leased to a third party private sector company to be selected at a later date, or by (b) work with a private developer that would construct and either own/operate or own/lease the facility to another private sector operator. STERA’s strategy is to build the transload facility in phases, as construction funds became available. STERA is currently in the process of seeking funding to undertake the construction of the first phase transload facility. When STERA obtains construction funds, it will procure engineering consulting services, undertake environmental analysis, secure site control, undertake engineering/design, and begin construction. STERA will not issue RFP’s for any project-related services until funding is in hand for this project.
Requests for Proposals for Capital Projects
STERA currently has no other open RFP's for capital projects. In all cases, STERA does not issue RFP’s until funding is in hand for any project.
STERA, the City of Salamanca, and the Seneca Nation of Indians had met in the spring of 2017 to discuss replacement of the Salamanca Main Street rail bridge (replacing the 6 lane rail bridge with a two lane bridge, with higher clearance for Main Street underpass traffic) and the realignment of track just to the west of the bridge (re-routing of the main line in this area to remove the curvature of the line, which is a safety issue and which keeps train speeds down). Such a project (or at least the bridge replacement component) would be eligible for NYS DOT Bridge NY funding. STERA and WNYP hope to discuss the project further with the City and Seneca Nation of Indians. The project currently is in the pre-application planning stage. The project would have to be approved by the Seneca Nation of Indians for both the bridge and track realignment projects to move forward. There is no current timeline for the project.
Transload Facility Projects
In March, 2006, the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board, using funding provided by NYSDOT, USDOC EDA, and WNYP, began a feasibility and site selection study relating to the phased construction and operation of rail-highway freight transfer facility to be located somewhere along the NYS portion of the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Line. The first phase was to involve construction of a transload facility, with potential future phases if justified by freight volume and market demand, to involve satellite marine terminal/inland port designation, intermodal container operations, and a nearby business or industrial park development. The study demonstrated commercial viability for the first phase transload facility and also recommended location of the transload facility at the WNYP rail yard in Allegany, New York (Cattaraugus County). This study report is available at www.southerntierwest.org/html/publications.htm. In January 2009, the Southern Tier West RP&DB, as part of the feasibility and site selection study project, undertook a preliminary engineering study for the construction of the proposed transload facility at the Allegany NY rail yard site. This engineering report, along with technical appendices, is available at ww.southerntierwest.org/html/publications.htm. Based upon these studies and the express indication by NYS DOT that it would encourage and help fund the construction of the first phase transload facility, STERA would like to undertake the project, either by (a) constructing and owning the facility, with operation to be leased to a third party private sector company to be selected at a later date, or by (b) work with a private developer that would construct and either own/operate or own/lease the facility to another private sector operator. STERA’s strategy is to build the transload facility in phases, as construction funds became available. STERA is currently in the process of seeking funding to undertake the construction of the first phase transload facility. When STERA obtains construction funds, it will procure engineering consulting services, undertake environmental analysis, secure site control, undertake engineering/design, and begin construction. STERA will not issue RFP’s for any project-related services until funding is in hand for this project.
Requests for Proposals for Capital Projects
STERA currently has no other open RFP's for capital projects. In all cases, STERA does not issue RFP’s until funding is in hand for any project.
Non-Capital Projects
STERA has discussed undertaking several study projects, none of which has yet advanced to the active project stage. In all cases, STERA will not issue RFP’s for consulting services until funding is in hand for any of these projects.