Talking Points (ROUGH DRAFT)
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Martin Daley
Oct 31, 2011, 2:44:00 PM10/31/11
to Livingston Ave. Rail Road Bridge Coalition
The Livingston Avenue Rail Road Bridge between the cities of Albany
and Rensselaer is slated to be completely reconstructed in 2017 as
part of New York State's High Speed Rail initiative. The entire bridge
has long been in dire need of an overhaul. New York finally has the
funds to plan for the Livingston Ave Bridge to be rebuilt or replaced.
The bridge's replacement is undergoing design by the New york State
Department of Transportation. The reconstruction of the bridge's
existing walkway should be a priority for the new design.
From the time the Livingston Avenue Bridge was reconstructed in 1902,
until the late 1980's, a walkway made it possible for a pedestrian to
cross the Hudson with relative ease. The walkway has been closed for
over a decade because of it's deteriorated condition.
The idea of rehabilitating the walkway is nothing new. It's been in
the Capital Region's Transportation Improvement Plan for nearly a
decade, and the walkway is part of the long range vision of the
Capital District Transportation Committee. The Walkway is a part of
the city of Albany's Bike Master Plan and the Albany 2030 Plan and
Rensselaer County's waterfront redevelopment plan.
There is a safe and accessible way to accommodate both trains and
pedestrians on the Livingston Avenue bridge, and there are other
communities, and rail companies, in the US that are coming to
agreeable terms the development for separated bike and pedestrian
access on rail bridges.
There will only be one opportunity to ensure that the walkway is
installed while the funding, political will, and public sentiment are
aligned. If the walkway is not replaced, Albany and Rensselaer will
have world-class trail networks and beautiful, vibrant waterfronts
that beckon visitors and residents alike: yet, people won't be able to
easily and safely cross the river.
About us: The Livingston Avenue Bridge Coalition (LARBC) is working to
build broad-based support that can send a powerful message that will
encourage bike and pedestrian accommodations to be constructed on this
critical link.
and Rensselaer is slated to be completely reconstructed in 2017 as
part of New York State's High Speed Rail initiative. The entire bridge
has long been in dire need of an overhaul. New York finally has the
funds to plan for the Livingston Ave Bridge to be rebuilt or replaced.
The bridge's replacement is undergoing design by the New york State
Department of Transportation. The reconstruction of the bridge's
existing walkway should be a priority for the new design.
From the time the Livingston Avenue Bridge was reconstructed in 1902,
until the late 1980's, a walkway made it possible for a pedestrian to
cross the Hudson with relative ease. The walkway has been closed for
over a decade because of it's deteriorated condition.
The idea of rehabilitating the walkway is nothing new. It's been in
the Capital Region's Transportation Improvement Plan for nearly a
decade, and the walkway is part of the long range vision of the
Capital District Transportation Committee. The Walkway is a part of
the city of Albany's Bike Master Plan and the Albany 2030 Plan and
Rensselaer County's waterfront redevelopment plan.
There is a safe and accessible way to accommodate both trains and
pedestrians on the Livingston Avenue bridge, and there are other
communities, and rail companies, in the US that are coming to
agreeable terms the development for separated bike and pedestrian
access on rail bridges.
There will only be one opportunity to ensure that the walkway is
installed while the funding, political will, and public sentiment are
aligned. If the walkway is not replaced, Albany and Rensselaer will
have world-class trail networks and beautiful, vibrant waterfronts
that beckon visitors and residents alike: yet, people won't be able to
easily and safely cross the river.
About us: The Livingston Avenue Bridge Coalition (LARBC) is working to
build broad-based support that can send a powerful message that will
encourage bike and pedestrian accommodations to be constructed on this
critical link.
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