Had enough bemoaning of state bankruptcy and corruption, and other woes home and abroad? Me too. I went down to meet someone in New York the Friday before Christmas, and we took in the magnificent Blake exhibit (now in its last week) and other treasures at the Morgan Library. I travelled down and back by train, and the service was pleasant (I got to the station early after a morning appointment and they let me take an earlier train), efficient and on time, as it was when a close relative and her husband went down after Christmas and were happy with the hotel featured on the Amtrak Web site. It's the only way to travel, as apparently recognized by Jerry Jennings and Jack McEneny, the former of whom was on my southbound train while the latter was on the late return trip. The riverside view is, of course, magnificent, and the Rensselaer station, with its great hall atop the parking garage, is a worthy modern addition to the region's infrastructure.
Joe Bruno is primarily responsible for that station, and for funding recent improvements on the line that have apparently improved Amtrak's timeliness. More improvements may be in the offing, as may be (also partly due, in a more problematic context, to the former Senate majority leader) an ethics reform bill. I concede the ample capacity of state leaders to bollix up these and other prospects, but it remains possible that they will not entirely do so. Happy New Year.
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