Alliance is working on a railroad industry

A group of Long Island business executives trying to promote an industry here to serve the nation's railroads have taken their cause one step closer to their goal. At least now they've got a name for their efforts: The Long Island Rail Suppliers Alliance.

In June, Island business executives traveled to Albany for a daylong conference sponsored by the state Department of Transportation and the Empire State Development Corp. to discuss creating a railroad supply industry in the state.

The Obama administration has made available $151 million in federal stimulus funds to the state to create a high-speed rail system similar to Europe's.

Later this month, the Long Island Forum for Technology will hold its first meeting of the alliance to raise the profile of the approximately 25 companies on the Island that already supply the rail industry with equipment and talk about ways to get ahold of some of the federal stimulus money for the region.

"I think there's certainly a possibility of a rail industry here," said Ray Donnelly, a LIFT director. "My hope is that with the federal funding, we have an opportunity to chase."

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), a member of the House Transportation Committee, will be on hand to discuss the federal perspective on high-speed rail systems at the Aug. 16 meeting at the Morrelly Homeland Security Center in Bethpage.