Transportation Connections Keep Tech Valley Moving
Published Apr 15, 2005
A five-year plan to improve safety and meet the needs of passengers and carriers has been implemented at Albany International Airport.
Tech Valley is on the move.
With a comprehensive transportation network that includes top-notch airports, a solid cavalry of buses and trains, and major highways leading throughout the country, the region enjoys its position as a hub of activity.
The Albany International Airport recently was named one of the best small airports in the Northeast by Forbes.com. Doug Myers, director of public affairs for the airport authority, says in recent years the airport has added a new terminal, parking garage, cargo facility and air traffic control tower and is expanding its two runways. The improvements lured Southwest Airlines, and the airport has become a hub for CommuteAir, operated through Continental Airlines.
“We see significant growth coming and want to stay ahead of the curve,” says John O’Donnell, CEO of the Albany International Airport Authority. “Our mission is to improve the quality of life and attract new businesses that bring more jobs here. To do that, we’ll continue to build and grow.”
Also serving the area is Stewart International Airport, which in 2000 became the first privatized commercial airport in the country and serves about 550,000 passengers each year. Just 55 miles north of New York City, in 2004 both Northwest Airlines and Independence Air began service out of Stewart. And the facility is planning a number of improvement projects.
Meanwhile, the Capital District Transportation Authority also is improving its facilities. About 11 million passengers each year are served by the authority, which operates 50 different bus routes. The authority also owns and operates the $53 million, 80,000-square-foot Rensselaer Rail Station that opened in 2002, and the smaller Saratoga Rail Station, which opened in 2004. Both are serviced by Amtrak, and Rensselaer is ranked as one of the busiest U.S. stations in the Amtrak network.
“Often these rail station gateways are the first impression a passenger has of an area,” says Carm Basile, CDTA marketing director. “Having such impressive gateways becomes a marketing tool for the whole Tech Valley.”
The region is crisscrossed by a highway network that includes the New York Thruway (I-87), I-84 and I-86 (Route 17). This fact is not lost on distribution companies such as FedEx Freight, Staples Fulfillment Center, Wakefern Food, and Yellow Freight that rely on the local infrastructure to transport their products. In fact, some Orange County companies have formed a“distribution cluster” to work with agencies, including the Orange County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), to solve common problems and promote the industry.
“Orange County is growing faster than any county in the state,” says Jack Bennett, a WIB strategic planner. “Part of the reason is our location and our transportation corridors.”
Such is the case for many Tech Valley communities, according to the Albany Airport Authority’s O’Donnell.
“The fact that there are so many transportation options here helps when we’re looking to attract more industries to the area and keep the ones we have,” he says.
Photo by Stephen Cherry
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