Local officials are reacting following an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul on renewed investment in the Hudson Valley’s rail services.

Plans include funding that would increase capacity, reduce delays, improve safety and cut travel times by up to 15 minutes.

The goal would be to also shorten the Metro-North Hudson line to a less-than 90-minute trip.

State Senator Peter Oberacker says he’s cautiously optimistic about the plan but would like to see the state potentially embrace hydrogen-powered rail.

“I have the most SUNY schools of any legislator in New York," Oberacker said. "I can't think of a better way to take those folks, those young folks that are downstate, moving them up through ... Sullivan, Ulster, Delaware, Schoharie, Otsego counties ... all the way to the Binghamton corridor, and to be able to give them a lifeline to come on up and partake in those SUNY institutions.”

The proposal includes planning, evaluation and design for a set of rail infrastructure capital improvements between New York City and Poughkeepsie.