The rail link between Stewart International Airport and various points to the south appears to be gaining steam. On Tuesday, Metro-North reported its plans to begin a study of transit access to Stewart and its west-of-Hudson territory. One goal of the intended rail line would be easing some of the traffic at the several airports serving New York City and the metro region.

Funding for the study has not been officially identified yet. Consultants are being given until Sept. 28 to make proposals.

According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, a feasibility study issued in December 2003 found the best option was to build a rail line from Stewart three miles south to the Salisbury Mills Station on Metro-North's Port Jervis line, which goes to the Secaucus, N.J., transfer station. Construction costs in 2002 dollars ranged from $276 million to $592 million.