LI execs meet with LaHood on future rail projects

Some Long Island business executives are working harder on the railroad these days.

They are actually trying to secure work for their companies on any future high-speed rail system built in the United States. On Monday night a new group calling itself the Long Island Rail Suppliers Alliance met at the New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss high-speed rail systems and work for Long Island companies.

About 25 people, including members of the alliance and staffers of the Long Island Forum for Technology and the Bethpage-based Morrelly Homeland Security Center, met for about 40 minutes with LaHood, said LIFT director Ray Donnelly. LaHood addressed a meeting of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Conference. Gov. David A. Paterson kicked off the conference and was joined by Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo and state leaders from across the country.

"It was a meet-and-greet," Donnelly said. But, said Donnelly, the Island business executives "connected" with LaHood over the need for high-speed rail and work for local companies.

LaHood, Donnelly said, reiterated President Barack Obama's commitment to such service. The Obama administration has made available $151 million in federal stimulus funds to New York State to create a high-speed rail system similar to Europe's.

Donnelly said about 30 companies on the Island already provide equipment and services to the rail industry and are looking to expand their work.