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{{short description|Commuter rail line of Syracuse, New York (1994–2008)}}
{{About|the New York commuter train line|other uses|Ontrack (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox public transit
|name=OnTrack
|image=OnTrack.svg
|imagesize=200
|image2=OnTrack train at Armory Square - Downtown Syracuse station, July 1995.jpg
|imagesize2=300px
|caption2=OnTrack trains at Armory Square in July 1995
|locale=[[Syracuse, New York]]
|transit_type=[[Commuter rail|Suburban rail]]
|lines=1
|stations=3 (full time)<br />2 (flag stops)<br />3 (seasonal)<br />3 (proposed but never opened)
|began_operation=October 1994
|ended_operation=March 2008
|operator=[[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway]]
|vehicles=4
|ridership=
|track_gauge={{RailGauge|sg}}
|map={{OnTrack}}
|map_state=collapsed
}}

'''OnTrack''' was a [[commuter rail|suburban rail]] line that operated in [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], [[New York (state)|New York]], from 1994 to 2008. The line ran from the [[Carousel Center]] (today's [[Destiny USA]]) on the city's north side via [[Armory Square]] and [[Syracuse University]] to Colvin Street, with summer weekend service south to [[Jamesville, New York|Jamesville]], mainly using 1950s-era diesel [[railcar]]s.<ref name="Metro Jacksonville"/><ref name="OnTrack Map">{{cite web|url=http://smtcmpo.org/docs/reports/EJ_2004-06/EJ_2004-06_map10.pdf|title=2004-20053 SMTC Environmental Justice Report, Map 10: OnTrack Rail Service|publisher=Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council|date=Mar 2005|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref>

The line was the result of a public-private partnership between the state of New York, [[Onondaga County]] and the [[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway]] (NYSW), a [[Class II railroad|Class II]] regional freight carrier.<ref name="Rail Inventory"/> The NYSW received tax breaks and grants in exchange for operating passenger service on the Syracuse line. Although OnTrack was initially successful, ridership declined and was ultimately discontinued due to inadequate [[rush hour]] service, poor publicity and failure to connect to Syracuse's [[Amtrak]] and intercity bus routes.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=13–15}}

In recent years, there have been proposals to complete the line and restart passenger service, potentially as a [[light rail]] system.<ref name="Kirst"/><ref name="airport"/>

==History==
Starting in the late 19th century, an extensive series of electric interurban railways served the Syracuse region, but by the 1930s local rail service ceased, and was replaced by buses and automobiles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Once Upon a Trolley |newspaper=[[The Post-Standard]] |first=Don |last=Lawless |location=[[Syracuse, New York]] |date=1978-04-13}}</ref> In the 1990s, [[Syracuse University]] graduate Robert Colucci proposed converting for passenger service a roughly {{convert|10|mi|km|adj=on}} segment of the old [[Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad]]'s Syracuse–[[Binghamton, New York|Binghamton]] line<ref name="Rail Inventory"/> between [[Carousel Center]] (now [[Destiny USA]]) in the north and [[Jamesville, New York|Jamesville]] in the south.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=2}} At the time, the little-used right of way was owned by [[Conrail]] which considered it a financial burden, so it was sold for $1 to the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=3}} The Onondaga IDA leased the track to the [[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway]] (NYSW) at a bargain rate, and allowed the NYSW to use it for freight service on the condition that a passenger rail service be run at least 250 days per year with 1,250 round trips.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=3}} In addition, the NYSW received a $400,000 tax break from the state of New York in order to cover operating costs.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=3}}<ref name="Metro Jacksonville">{{cite web|url=https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-jan-syracuse-when-rail-fails|title=Syracuse: When Rail Fails|publisher=Metro Jacksonville|date=2008-01-09|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref>

[[File:Carousel Center OnTrack Station.jpg|thumb|left|The disused Carousel Center (Destiny USA) station in 2021]]
Since the rail infrastructure was already in place, the state of New York provided a $4.5 million grant to purchase rolling stock (four 1950 [[Budd Rail Diesel Car]]s) and construct passenger stations along the former freight line.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=3}} OnTrack was incorporated on September 24, 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trn.trains.com/railroads/2006/07/ontrack-city-express|title=OnTrack City Express: A passenger rail shuttle serving Syracuse, N.Y.|publisher=Trains.com|date=2006-07-03|author=Van Hattem, Matt|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> and the primary service (known as the "City Express")<ref name="Rail Inventory">{{cite web|url=http://www.smtcmpo.org/docs/reports/RailFinalReport2003-04.pdf|title=Central New York Rail Corridor Inventory|publisher=Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council|date=Dec 2003|access-date=2017-07-15}}</ref> began in October between Syracuse University and Carousel Center, ten times a day and seven days a week. OnTrack initially exceeded expectations, carrying 45,757 passengers in its first three months of service.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=4}} However, the line never turned a profit, and relied on state subsidies and volunteers to keep it running.<ref name="Kirst"/>

With the initial success of the line, NYSW proposed expansions to the service, including a 2002 proposal for intercity service from Syracuse to [[Binghamton, New York|Binghamton]], stopping at several OnTrack stations as well as [[Cortland, New York|Cortland]].<ref name=espa2002>{{cite journal |url=http://www.trainweb.org/espa/espa802.htm |journal=The ESPA Express |title=Binghamton-Syracuse train next year? |date=Aug 2002 |publisher=Empire State Passengers Association|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> However, the schedule was not optimized for commuter usage. Rather, the train was meant to bring visitors to popular destinations such as downtown museums and restaurants, weekend excursion trips to [[Jamesville Beach Park]], the "Santa Train",<ref name="Kenyon">{{cite news|url=https://cnycentral.com/news/local/ontrack-a-derailed-promise-for-syracuse|title=OnTrack: a derailed promise for Syracuse|work=CNYCentral|author=Kenyon, Jim|date=2013-11-07|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> and the "Orange Express" special service for [[Carrier Dome]] events.<ref name="Rail Inventory"/>{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=4}}

A high priority project was a connection to the [[William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center]], where it could link directly to [[Amtrak]] and local/intercity buses, and the adjacent new Alliance Bank Stadium (now known as [[NBT Bank Stadium]]) and [[Central New York Regional Market|CNY Regional Market]], which would make the line much more useful for commuters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smtcmpo.org/docs/reports/2004_EJ_Final_Report.pdf|title=Environmental Justice Analysis Final Report: 2003-2004 UPWP|publisher=Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council|date=Mar 2004|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> This would require the construction of a new bridge over Park Street ([[New York State Route 370|State Route 370]]), so that local trains would not interfere with operations on the [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] (formerly [[New York Central Railroad|New York Central]]) main line.<ref name="Rail Inventory"/> [[Central New York Regional Transportation Authority|Centro]], Syracuse's local transportation agency, began construction on the bridge in 1998, and also prepared a platform at the Walsh Transportation Center to allow direct transfer between OnTrack and Amtrak trains.<ref name="Metro Jacksonville"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/03/roth_steel_closed_owing_county_development_agency_money.html|author=Moriarty, Rick|title=Roth Steel closed owing county development agency $60,000|work=Syracuse.com|date=2014-03-18|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> Congressman [[James T. Walsh|Jim Walsh]] approved a $3 million grant for the project.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=3–4}} However, CSX objected due to concerns that construction might destabilize the adjacent freight rail bridge across Park Avenue.<ref name="Kenyon"/> The bridge project never came to fruition, and more than 300 tons of steel budgeted for construction were scrapped.<ref name="Kenyon"/>

By the mid-2000s, ridership had dropped greatly due to the lack of continued publicity. Services were reduced, which led to further decrease in patronage. By 2003 the train ran only four days a week.<ref name="Rail Inventory"/> It was found that NYSW had used large amounts of state grants and tax breaks to fund freight service and repair track on its other lines, rather than for OnTrack as the money had been intended.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=5}} Another reason for the lack of growth in ridership was the lack of stations in residential areas, limiting the line's use by commuters.<ref name="Metro Jacksonville"/> In 2007 service had been cut to weekends only and ridership had declined to 50 passengers per day,<ref name="Metro Jacksonville"/> far short of the 500 per day required to be profitable. NYSWR chairman Walter Rich, one of OnTrack's major proponents, died in 2007, and the railroad's interest in continuing OnTrack service diminished.<ref name="Kenyon"/> Regular service was terminated indefinitely in July 2007.{{sfn|LaBerge|2009|p=5}} The Orange Express ran its last train in March 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blog.syracuse.com/news/2008/03/ontrack_ends_shuttle_between_d.html|title=OnTrack ends shuttle between downtown Syracuse and Dome|work=Syracuse.com|author=Grogan, Mike|date=2008-03-10|access-date=2017-07-17}}</ref> The line continues to be used, infrequently, by freight trains.<ref name="Kirst">{{cite news|url=https://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/2015/06/ontrack_and_downtown_syracuse_and_eric_ennis_and_passenger_rail.html|title=Seeing an old Syracuse rail service in a new way: Is there renewed hope for the Ontrack corridor?
|work=Syracuse.com|author=Kirst, Sean|date=2015-06-02|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref>

==Route==
[[Image:Syracuse OnTrack map.png|thumb|right|Map of OnTrack service, showing the unfinished extension to Walsh Transportation Center. [[Amtrak]] service shown in gray.]]
The OnTrack route starts at Destiny USA in the north, and runs along the south shore of [[Onondaga Lake]] and under [[Interstate 690 (New York)|I-690]] before turning southeast through the Westside neighborhoods of Syracuse, roughly paralleling Erie Boulevard. It passes directly through downtown Syracuse near [[Armory Square]], turning south along [[Onondaga Creek]], then through the Southside and under [[Interstate 81|I-81]] where it skirts the west side of the [[Syracuse University]] campus and [[Oakwood Cemetery (Syracuse, New York)|Oakwood Cemetery]] to Colvin Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuseontrack.com/map-x.htm|title=OnTrack Route Map: City Express Service|publisher=Syracuse OnTrack|access-date=2017-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617215300/http://www.syracuseontrack.com/map-x.htm|archive-date=2006-06-17|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite map|title=The National Map|cartography=U.S. Geological Survey|url=https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> The line then turns east through rolling countryside along [[Interstate 481 (New York)|I-481]], leaving the city of Syracuse, and then south again towards [[Jamesville, New York|Jamesville]] and along the western shore of [[Jamesville Reservoir]] to [[Jamesville Beach Park]]. Within Syracuse, the line passes through a mix of residential, commercial, retail and light industrial areas; south of Brighton Avenue and the city limits it traverses mostly undeveloped rural land.<ref name="Rail Inventory"/>

The entire line north of Jamesville is [[Grade separation|grade-separated]], and in downtown Syracuse most of the line is elevated. The line is single-tracked with passing sidings at Armory Square (old Downtown station) and Jamesville. The section south of Syracuse University was only used by special excursion trains, although in 1999 when parts of [[Interstate 81]] were temporarily closed for construction, the federal government briefly subsidized free commuter service between Jamesville and downtown.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.syracuse.com/kirst/index.ssf/1999/05/ontrack_with_part_of_interstate_shut_down_a_more_relaxing_take_on_a_morning_comm.html|title=Ontrack: With interstate shut down, a more relaxing kind of morning commute|work=Syracuse.com|author=Kirst, Sean|date=1999-05-28|access-date=2017-07-16}}</ref> Only four of the stations (Carousel Center, Armory Square, Syracuse University and the unfinished station at Alliance Bank Stadium) had covered platforms. The regular fare was $1.50,<ref name="City Express Schedule">{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuseontrack.com:80/sched-x.htm|title=OnTrack City Express Schedule|publisher=Syracuse OnTrack|access-date=2017-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404085149/http://www.syracuseontrack.com/sched-x.htm|archive-date=2005-04-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the fare for the Orange Express was $4 (from Armory Square) or $5 (from Carousel Center).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuseontrack.com:80/sched-o.htm|title=OnTrack Orange Express Schedule|publisher=Syracuse OnTrack|access-date=2017-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617215341/http://www.syracuseontrack.com/sched-o.htm|archive-date=2006-06-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===List of stations===
{|class="wikitable" border="1"
!Name
!Miles (km) from [[William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center|RTC]]<ref>Distance measured using [[Google Earth]].</ref>
!Type
!Description
!Photo
!Current owners
|-
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|'''''[[Central New York Regional Market]]'''''
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|n/a
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|n/a
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|Regional farmer's market. Planned, but never built.
|
|n/a
|-
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|'''''Alliance Bank Stadium ([[NBT Bank Stadium]])'''''
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|0.46<br>(0.74)
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|Covered platform
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|Home of the [[Syracuse Chiefs]] [[minor league baseball]] team. Built but never opened. Demolished in 2022.
|[[File:Abandoned Ontrack Station Outside Syracuse Mets Stadium.jpg|thumb|Alliance Bank (now NBT) Stadium Station in 2017]]
|Station demolished, property owned by NBT Bank
|-
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|'''''[[William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center]]'''''
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|0.00
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|Covered platform
|bgcolor="#F5F5DC"|Connections to [[Amtrak]], [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], [[Trailways]] and local [[Central New York Regional Transportation Authority|Centro]] buses. A dedicated, fully covered platform and link to the transportation center was completed, but never connected to the rest of the system.
|[[Image:Pedestrian_passage_and_OnTrack_trackbed_at_Syracuse_station,_July_2016.jpg|thumb|right|A section of incomplete track at the [[William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center]], which had been built for OnTrack trains but never connected to the line]]
|Intermodal Transportation Center, Inc, a subsidiary of Centro
|-
|'''Carousel Center ([[Destiny USA]])'''
|0.59<br>(0.95)
|Covered platform
|New York's largest [[shopping mall]].
|[[File:Destiny USA Ontrack Station.jpg|thumb|Destiny USA Ontrack Station in 2018]]
|Pyramid Group, owners of [[Destiny USA]]
|-
|'''600 Erie Place'''
|3.30<br>(5.31)
|[[Flag stop]], no platform
|For the [[Westside, Syracuse|Westside]] neighborhood. 
|[[File:600 Erie Place Station.jpg|thumb|600 Erie Place Flag Stop Station in 2016]]
|
|-
|'''[[Armory Square]] - [[Downtown Syracuse]]'''
|3.84<br>(6.18)
|Covered platform
|Elevated station on Armory Square, a major nightlife area with many small shops and restaurants, and close to downtown jobs.
|[[File:Armory Square Station.jpg|thumb|Two trains servicing the armory square station, an express, and an orange ]]
|Platform is still owned by [[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway|NYSW]]; the building is owned by a private company and was once the [[Syracuse station (Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad)|DL&W Depot]].
|-
|'''[[Syracuse University]] - [[Carrier Dome]]'''
|5.01<br>(8.07)
|Covered platform
|Serving the [[University Hill, Syracuse|University Hill]] neighborhood, about a quarter-mile (0.4 km) from Carrier Dome. Final destination for the Orange Express.
|[[File:Syracuse University Carrier Dome Station - Abandoned 2013.jpg|thumb|right|Syracuse University - Carrier Dome station in 2013]]
|[[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway|NYSW]]
|-
|'''Colvin Street'''
|5.66<br>(9.11)
|Open platform
|For the [[Brighton, Syracuse|Brighton]] and [[Outer Comstock]] neighborhoods. City Express trains only served this stop if called.<ref name="City Express Schedule"/>
|[[File:Colvin Street Station Stairs.jpg|thumb|The stairs to enter the Colvin Street platform. No physical platform is left.]]
|Stairs are owned by the [[Syracuse, New York|City of Syracuse]]; platform is owned by [[New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway|NYSW]].
|-
|'''Rock Cut Road''' (seasonal)
|9.88<br>(15.91)
|Flag stop, no platform
|
|
|
|-
|'''[[Jamesville, New York|Jamesville Village]]''' (seasonal)
|10.69<br>(17.21)
|Flag stop, no platform
|
|
|Track owned by NYSW; station that serviced the flag stop is owned by the town.
|-
|'''[[Jamesville Beach Park|Jamesville Beach]]''' (seasonal)
|12.39<br>(19.95)
|Open platform
|Popular swimming and boating area along [[Jamesville Reservoir]].
|
|
|}

==Rolling stock==
[[File:OnTrack train at Carousel Center, July 1995.jpg|thumb|right|M-7 at Carousel Center in July 1995]]
OnTrack was operated with four [[Budd Rail Diesel Car]]s (RDC-1) "Buddliners" built in the 1950s.<ref name="Metro Jacksonville"/> All OnTrack cars were owned by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway and returned to NYSW upon the demise of the commuter rail service. By 2008, the RDCs were either sold or out of service.{{sfn|Duke|Keilty|1990|pp=251–270}} The Orange Express required longer trains and used retired [[Metra]] passenger cars, pulled by various NYSW locomotives.

*M-5: Budd RDC-1 built for [[New Haven Railroad]] (NHRR) #23 built in 1952; later served with [[Penn Central Transportation Company]] (PC) as #68; [[Metro-North Railroad]] (MNR) as #18, [[Amtrak]] as #18; sold to [[Conway Scenic Railroad]] of [[New Hampshire]] in May 2008.
*M-6: Budd RDC-1 built in 1953 for NHRR as #37; later served with PC (#37); MNR (#11); [[Amtrak]] (#11); still owned by NYSWR 
*M-7: Budd RDC-1 built in 1953 for NHRR as #43; later served with PC (#43); MNR (#43) and now with [[Southern Railroad of New Jersey]] since 2008. This specific car has been sitting abandoned in a lot owned by SRNJ since 2009.
*M-8: Budd RDC-1 built in 1953 for [[New York Central Railroad]] as #465; later served with PC (#65) and MNR (#65)

==Closure==
The rolling stock has been scrapped or sold to other companies. Most stations are sitting abandoned. Many people agree that the only reason that OnTrack was not profitable was due to lack of service hours during rush hour, as well as there being no physical connection between the William J. Walsh Transportation Center and the rest of the line.

Although a connection was planned and was under construction, plans halted soon after construction began, as [[Conrail]] claimed that the construction to the bridge was weakening their bridge next to it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moriarty |first=Rick |date=2013-10-15 |title=Onondaga County agency to scrap steel bought for railroad bridge that was never built |url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2013/10/onondaga_county_agency_to_scrap_steel_bought_for_railroad_bridge_that_was_never.html |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=syracuse |language=en}}</ref> The metal to build the bridge was scrapped and sold in 2013, long after the rail lines' demise.

==Future==
Local authorities have discussed the possibility of renewed OnTrack service, perhaps as a [[light rail]] system. Eric Ennis, an economic development specialist for the city of Syracuse, has cited new development in the University Hill neighborhood, a residential boom in downtown, and the expansion of Destiny USA as potential sources of increased ridership.<ref name="Kirst" /> New stations in the low-income neighborhoods the line passes through would increase mobility for carless residents.<ref name="Kirst" /> The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, which operates [[Syracuse Hancock International Airport]], has also considered the potential benefits of restarting OnTrack service with an extension to the airport.<ref name="airport">{{cite web|url=https://www.syrairport.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Strategic-Plan.pdf|title=Strategic Plan|publisher=Syracuse Hancock International Airport|access-date=2017-07-15}}</ref>

In June of 2023, the tax break for NYSW ended. Onondaga County sent NYSW a bill of $290,000. There is a pending legal battle about the assessment of the property.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knauss |first=Tim |date=2023-06-14 |title=This property tax break lasted twice as long as the Syracuse rail service it helped |url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2023/06/this-property-tax-break-lasted-twice-as-long-as-the-syracuse-rail-service-it-helped.html |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=syracuse |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Railroads in Syracuse, New York]]
*[[Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad]]
*[[Central New York Regional Transportation Authority]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Works cited==
*{{cite web|url=https://courses.cit.cornell.edu/crp384/2009reports/LaBerge_Regional%20Rail%20in%20Syracuse,%20NY.pdf|title=Regional Rail in Syracuse, NY: A Case and Concept for Renewed Service|last=LaBerge|first=Chris|publisher=Cornell University|date=Dec 2009|access-date=2017-07-16}}
*{{Duke-RDC }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
*[http://www.sif.net/ontrack.htm Syracuse in Focus OnTrack photo gallery]
*[http://www.rrhistorical-2.com/cnynrhs/Photos/OnTrack2004 OnTrack's 10th anniversary photo gallery]
*[http://news10now.com/content/all_news/central_new_york/?SecID=86&ArID=19760 Article containing a short video clip of OnTrack]
*[http://www.iapl.info/IAPL_2004/2004%20-%20TRAVEL%20TO%20SYRACUSE/ONTRACK%20Schedule%2004.htm Ontrack schedule for City Express]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080502030533/http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychaos/susquehanna/ NSWR roster]

{{Syracuse, New York}}

[[Category:Defunct New York (state) railroads]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Former United States regional rail systems]]
[[Category:Defunct railroads in Syracuse, New York]]
[[Category:Defunct public transport operators in the United States]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:Railway companies disestablished in 2007]]