COOPERSTOWN — A proposed federal law would restore and extend a tax credit for short-line railroads to target infrastructure-improvement projects through 2016.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) launched his push for the “Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act” during a Thursday appearance at the New York Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW) headquarters in Cooperstown.

The short-line rail tax credit expired on Jan. 1, but Schumer’s bill would restore the credit and extend it through 2016. 

The tax credit is valued at 50 percent of the cost of track maintenance and improvements, up to $3,500 per mile.

The NYSW has already benefitted to the tune of more than $7 million from this tax credit and is looking to maintain and upgrade rail infrastructure to keep shipments running quickly and safely, according to a news release from Schumer’s office. 

Schumer’s bill would allow the NYSW to undertake an additional $2.5 million to $3 million in infrastructure improvements over the next two years.

The NYSW is an arterial route for 85 New York businesses that ship their products to the Port of New York for export, especially agricultural businesses transporting commodities such as lumber, feed ingredients, and motor vehicles, according to the news release. 

The NYSW is “particularly important” to the transportation of grains from Upstate New York’s grain producers to the Port of New York, where they are then shipped around the world, Schumer’s office said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

GENEVA — A Geneva bus and limousine company is hearing from brides-to-be and other groups following the sudden closure of Caz Limo, Inc. on Wednesday.

Fitzgerald Brothers Bus and Limousine Co. has serviced the Syracuse market since 2001, the company said in an email message to CNYBJ.com.

 “We are calling back lots of drivers who were off for the winter to meet this new demand,” Mike Fitzgerald, company owner, said in his message.

The firm operates a fleet of more than 30 vehicles that are of “similar size and composition” to Caz Limo, and, therefore, is “able to service those customers in the same capacity,” Fitzgerald said.

The company owner acknowledges that the Caz Limo situation is “unfortunate.”

Fitzgerald also notes that his business may be able to accommodate some of the company’s former employees, as his firm has openings for salespeople, mechanics, and drivers.

As CNYBJ.com  reported Wednesday, Caz Limo, a well-known charter bus and limousine service in Central New York, went out of business due to the firm’s “financial situation.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com