The Albany Times Union [1] reports on the return of construction plans for a fourth track at the Rensselaer Amtrak Rail Station. The plan is welcome news for the more than 650,000 people who travel through the station every year and who are often delayed by the station's inadequate capacity.

The fourth track was part of the original plan for the station, which opened in September 2002, but it and other parts of the plan were dropped when the cost of the project soared over original estimates. On Wednesday, however, the Capital District Transportation Authority [2] approved a contract to complete improvements to the station. The $10 million price tag is covered by a $22 million state rail improvement package announced in September by state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, R-Brunswick [3].

The project that will include the additional track along the west side of the station, new switching equipment, demolishing two old Amtrak station buildings and expanding parking lots.

Rensselaer Rail Station is the ninth busiest station in the country.