North Country Businesses Concerned Over Amtrak Service Disruption

North Country residents and business owners have raised concerns over anticipated delays in Amtrak services, expected due to construction in New York City. The construction, beginning next month, will reduce Amtrak’s daily round trips between the Albany area and New York City, resulting in layovers of at least 90 minutes for travelers heading north of the capital region.

The Adirondack Line, which has faced multiple disruptions over recent years, will yet again see service affected by necessary construction near the East River tunnels. This construction will limit the number of trains that can traverse between Penn Station and Queens, New York. Local leaders and constituents are voicing their dismay over the forthcoming changes.

Democratic Assemblyman Billy Jones, representing New York’s 115th District, emphasized the need for consistent service. “We just want the service to be consistent and to have our residents have access to that service in a consistent manner. And that’s not what we’ve been getting,” Jones stated.

In the North Country, businesses reliant on visitors, such as ski lodges and retailers in Downtown Plattsburgh, are bracing for the economic impact. Lauren Garfield, marketing manager at Whiteface Mountain, expressed concerns, saying, “It’s definitely a concern. There aren’t a lot of public transportation methods to get to our region from the metro New York area easily. So, we don’t want to lose any one of them.”

Local business owner Carolyn Tetreault, who owns “A Beautiful Mess” in Plattsburgh, reflected on the potential loss of revenue, saying, “Having that bonus of people traveling from afar just adds to our sales and such. So, to see something else that’s going to cut into that is kind of disappointing.”

Academic institutions such as SUNY Plattsburgh have also reacted, expressing displeasure over the service cuts, noting the inconvenience it poses to students who utilize Amtrak for transit between the university and their homes.

Amid these concerns, Jones is engaging with Amtrak and the New York State Department of Transportation, urging a collaborative effort to find solutions to this service disruption. Despite apprehensions, some local leaders remain hopeful, considering alternative transport options such as cars and buses.

Garfield remains cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season, stating, “If it’s renting a car or taking a bus instead or just making do with any delays on that Amtrak side, I think we’ll still have a great season.” Meanwhile, Tetreault highlights the resilience of downtown businesses, saying, “We kind of band together and try to help each other to get through things and move forward.”

The construction is projected to persist for three years, although it remains unclear how extensively train schedules will be affected throughout this period.