The Livingston Avenue Railroad 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 reconstruction will be overseen by the Federal Rail Administration and the bridge’s replacement is undergoing design by the New York State Department of Transportation. Reconstruction of the bridge’s existing walkway should be a priority for the new design.

The current incarnation of this bridge, dating back to 1901, was constructed as a multi-modal facility. For nearly a century the walkway on the south side of this bridge made it possible for pedestrians and bicyclists to easily and safely cross the Hudson River between Albany and Rensselaer. The walkway, in dire need of repair, was closed in the late 1980s / early 1990s and has been inaccessible ever since.

When the bridge is replaced, the new span should accommodate and address long-standing and well-documented community goals such as improved access to downtown areas, congestion mitigation, and enhanced connection to the Hudson waterfront, and links a growing network of multi-use trails; including the New York State Canalway Trail, the Albany County Rail Trail, and the proposed Rensselaer County Trail. Enhancing walking and biking transportation across the Hudson River will increase the efficiency of the transportation network without impeding rail traffic.

Rail with trail is common and mutually beneficial in many communities throughout the country and New York State. Potential conflicts between rail traffic and walkers & bicyclists can be mitigated through the use of fences, gates, barriers, and warning systems that have been employed in movable bridges in other areas of the state; including places as urban as New York City, and rural as the bucolic comminutes along the Erie Canalway Trail. The return on investment for bicycle-pedestrian facilities is very high compared to most other transportation projects, and the added cost of bicycle-pedestrian accommodations on a new bridge would be a small fraction of the entire project cost.

Investment in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure can provide a wide array of benefits including an increase in physical activity, tourist spending, reduced congestion and travel time, safer streets and neighborhoods, a cleaner environment and reduced dependence upon foreign oil. The Capital Region has demonstrated a lasting commitment to robust mass transit as well as “complete streets” which are safe for travel by all roadway users including bicyclists, walkers, people with disabilities and children. The new LAB can be a cornerstone of our growing multi-modal transportation network by connecting urban centers across the Hudson River.

Support for rehabilitation of the LAB is strong on both the Albany and Rensselaer side of the Hudson River. The project was added to the Capital Region’s Transportation Improvement Plan over a decade ago. Reconstruction of the walkway is mentioned in several community plans:

Albany 2030 Comprehensive Plan (2011)
City of Rensselaer Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Update (2011)
Albany Master Bike Plan (2009) (incorporated into the 2030 plan)
Hudson River Crossing Study (2008)
Tech Valley Trails Regional Trails Plan (2007)
Patroon Creek Greenway Plan (2004)
Rensselaer County Trail from the Livingston Ave. Bridge to the Troy-Menands Bridge (2004)
The studies above were the result of a great deal of public input and discussion and reflect a widespread consensus that the Capital Region will benefit greatly from bicycle-pedestrian investments on the new LAB. Each can all be found here.

In December the city of Albany passed a resolution in support of the walkway. In January the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Greenway Conservancy did the same.

The LARBC is a broad-based network of organizations, community leaders, advocates, and stakeholders throughout the Capital Region, working to ensure that the new LAB will provide safe and comfortable access for bicyclists and pedestrians. The coalition is supported by several local, regional, and state-wide organizations including: Parks & Trails New York, The New York State Bicycling Coalition, The Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Empire State Futures, and Capital Region Transportation Advocates.

I look forward to working with you to ensure that the Capital Region’s waterfront is a safe, attractive, and easily accessible place for all Capital Region residents and visitors. Thank you for supporting the Livingston Avenue Bridge Walkway reconstruction.

It looks like leadership in both houses of Congress want to pass their respective bills by Presidents’ Day – meaning the next 2 weeks are critical.As identified by T4America, “here are a handful of the many problems with the House bill (HR 7):”

• Ends dedicated funding for public transportation (supposedly keeps funding at current levels through transfers from the general fund, but these would not be in a secure trust fund so Congress could redirect them at any time).
• Completely eliminates the Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to Schools dedicated pedestrian/bicycle programs.
• Guts the CMAQ program – states would be allowed to use CMAQ to fund any project that reduces congestion (in the short term), including highway expansions.
• Aggressively “streamlines” the environmental review process.
• Many groups are also angry about the funding sources – expanded oil drilling in the continental shelves and Alaska.

Future Actions to oppose the bill include:

• T4America and other national transportation and environmental groups (and possibly even some conservative groups that oppose the House bill) are organizing a call-in day on Thursday, February 9th which will target House members. You can stand by for T4’s action alert, or write your own.
• The Tri-State Transportation Committee is organizing a sign-on letter for the state’s House delegation later this week.

Actions Already Taken

• Today, MTA Chairman Joe Lhota, TWU President John Samuelsen, NYCDOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and U.S. Representatives Crowley, Nadler, Maloney, and Rangel held a press conference at Grand Central against the House bill’s transit provisions. I know that the Capital District Transportation Authority has also reached out to the Albany-area members (Tonko and Gibson) and that NYPTA may more broadly mobilize as well.
• Mayor Bloomberg also came out against the House bill through the Building America’s Future coalition.
•  Over 600 organizations across the country have signed on to a T4/APTA letter against the House bill, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AARP, the National Rural Assembly, American Society of Civil Engineers, LOCUS (real estate developers), and the National Association of Counties.

Building for America’s Future - Non-Profit Protesting the Proposed Transportation Bill

NYBC urges concerned citizens to join the opposition and prevent the giant step backward for bike and pedestrian investment in the United States. 

Patrick Symmes, an author staying in New York in 2006, was inspired to catch bike thieves after his bike was stolen in broad daylight in a busy New York City street. Symmes wrote a piece for Outside Magazine entitled “Who Pinched My Ride” which tells his cross-country journey that included “gps trackers, police stakeouts and sting operations” in his quest do understand and publicize the underworld of bike theft across the country. Bike theft is often over looked across the country as many law enforcement agencies aren’t engaged in following through with bike theft cases. Patrick Symmes story captures a glaring need in biking: Their Protection.

For the full article on NPR.org, Click Here. 

For Patrick Symmes  ”Who Pinched My Ride”  Piece, Click Here.