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Passengers board an Amtrak train on the platform at the William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center in Syracuse, in this July 19, 2012 file photo. New York transportation officials are scheduling public hearings in Syracuse and other Upstate cities in March over proposed plans to create high speed rail service between Albany and Niagara Falls.

(Ellen M.Blalock | eblalock@syracuse.com)

WASHINGTON -- Do Central New York residents and business executives support the idea of a high-speed rail line across Upstate New York?

That's one of the questions U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei wants to answer as part of a broad survey his office will begin circulating today about the roads, bridges, rails, ports, pipelines and other infrastructure that supports Central New York.

The online survey is part of an initiative Maffei launched this year with a series of meetings to find about the challenges facing infrastructure in Central New York and to solicit ideas about how to improve those assets.

Two questions in the survey ask for suggestions about the best option to replace the elevated portion of Interstate 81 in downtown Syracuse.

A section on passenger rail asks, "How important do you think access to high-speed rail is for the Central New York economy?"

The survey begins as state and federal officials prepare to hold a public hearing in Syracuse on Wednesday, asking for feedback on a proposed high-speed rail line that would pass through Syracuse and stretch 463 miles from Niagara Falls to New York City. Officials are considering five options for the high-speed rail line that would cost $1.7 billion to $6.2 billion.

The public hearing on the proposal will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at NBT Bank Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse. Under the plan, passenger rail service on Amtrak would be improved to allow trains to reach top speeds from 79 mph to 125 mph, depending on the option selected.

Maffei has been a longtime supporter of the high-speed rail project, saying it carries the potential to transform the Upstate economy in a way not seen since the building of the Erie Canal.

"In order for our local businesses to grow, hire new workers, and create more jobs, they need 21st Century infrastructure and transportation options," Maffei said in a statement today. "We need to make smart investments in infrastructure so our businesses can compete, talented professionals can market their skills to the world, and Central New York can become an even more attractive place for companies to invest and grow their workforce."

Upstate New York is one of 11 federally-designated corridors for high-speed rail, making the project eligible for billions of dollars in federal aid. The aid includes $18.5 million to upgrade the Syracuse Amtrak station for high-speed trains, a project likely to start next year.

Contact Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWeinerDC