Continue here.State Sought $349M To Replace Problem Railroad Bridge, Gets $160M
Even though Norwalk's balky Walk Bridge has brought the country's busiest commuter railroad to a standstill several times, the Federal Transit Administration on Wednesday gave Connecticut less than half of what the state sought to replace it..
The state and its Congressional delegation had lobbied heavily to get $349 million, with officials warning that increasingly frequent breakdowns of the 118-year-old bridge do far more than inconvenience train riders.
But as it balanced billions of dollars of requests for a limited pot of money, the FTA opted to give Connecticut just $160 million. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy promised that work to replace the Walk Bridge, scheduled to start in 2016, will go forward, and that the state will find other sources to make up the shortfall.
MNRR/Norwalk Walk Bridge replacement
#1
Posted 18 September 2014 - 11:12 AM
#2
Posted 06 October 2014 - 12:38 PM
Here is that story.
Gov. Malloy announces Walk Bridge replacement
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) has a plan to close a $188 million funding gap for the design and replacement of the New Haven's 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk, Gov. Dannel Malloy announced late last week.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#3
Posted 24 November 2014 - 02:25 PM
Progressive Railroading, 11/24:
Connecticut approves state funds for Walk Bridge replacement
Connecticut's State Bond Commission has approved more than $53 million for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) to begin work to replace the New Haven Line's Walk Bridge, Gov. Dannel Malloy announced last week. Maintained by MTA Metro-North Railroad under a contract with the state, the 118-year-old bridge carries more than 140 trains a day. This summer, the bridge malfunctioned in two separate incidents within a two-week period, causing delays for New Haven Line commuters. "The failure of the Walk Bridge to open this summer, which resulted in massive delays and hassle for Connecticut riders, just underscored the need for us to continue our efforts to aggressively pursue funding for these kinds of projects and ensure a safe, reliable and convenient commute for residents," said Malloy in a press release.
Read more here.
#4
Posted 16 August 2015 - 11:06 AM
Connecticut Department of Transportation prepares to rebuild Metro-North 'Dock Yard'
NORWALK -- With the Walk Bridge slated for replacement, Metro-North Railroad soon will need some extra space in Norwalk to juggle its trains.
http://www.thehour.c...78af4e92d6.html
#5
Posted 07 April 2016 - 06:06 PM
Progressive Railroading, 4/6/16:
Connecticut DOT unveils website for Walk Bridge replacement project
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has launched a new website for its Walk Bridge program, which calls for replacing a 120-year-old rail bridge over the Norwalk River.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#6
Posted 13 May 2016 - 03:50 PM
The Hour, Norwalk, CT, 5/13/16:
SoNo Ironworks tenants brace for Walk Bridge work
Hector Correa has lived at SoNo Ironworks for nearly two years and can see from his apartment window trains pass over the nearby Walk Bridge.
Like other SoNo Ironworks tenants, he's uncertain how the state's planned replacement of the 120-year-old railroad bridge -- slated to begin in mid-2018 and last four to five years -- will affect him.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#7
Posted 13 May 2016 - 03:52 PM
Connecticut Post, Bridgeport, CT, 5/7/16:
Complex ‘operation’ replacing Norwalk bridge
Imagine the pending replacement of the movable train bridge straddling the river between South and East Norwalk as a massive version of the classic Operation board game.
State transportation department officials insist the 120-year-old Norwalk River Bridge, or Walk Bridge, which routinely gets stuck in the open position and is prone to storm damage, must be removed for the health of the rail system.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#8
Posted 13 May 2016 - 04:05 PM
The Hour, 5/12/16:
Walk Bridge meeting airs worries
Amid growing local concerns, the Connecticut Department of Transportation played to a full house at City Hall on Wednesday, during a public information meeting on the estimated $600 million replacement of the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#9
Posted 28 May 2016 - 03:09 PM
NY MTA news release, 5/26:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that Metro-North Railroad and the Connecticut Department of Transportation have signed a “partnering letter” agreeing to a strong, collaborative effort as plans are finalized to replace the Walk railroad bridge – the 120-year-old bridge over the Norwalk River that swings open and closed to accommodate marine traffic below.
The bridge carries all four tracks and is a key link on the New Haven Line – the busiest commuter line in the country – and the entire Northeast corridor between Boston, New York and Washington DC. When it fails to close properly – as has happened in recent years – it causes significant inconvenience to commuters and both commercial and recreational mariners, and disrupts commerce and economic activity. The bridge carries over 165 commuter and freight trains daily.
“This complex project requires meticulous planning and effective communications between the DOT and Metro-North so that everyone has input and consistent information,” said CTDOT Commissioner James Redeker. “This will ensure the best and most informed decision-making as the project advances.”
“To maintain the ongoing safety and reliability of the New Haven line, replacing the Walk railroad bridge is of paramount importance to both the Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad,” said Joseph Giulietti, President of Metro-North Railroad. “Metro-North is collaborating closely with the Connecticut Department of Transportation to make sure we build a highly reliable structure, while minimizing potential service disruptions.”
The attached letter is written to memorialize “the management approach and working relationships … that are necessary to advance the Walk Bridge Program,” which includes the replacement of three nearby bridges and makes other operational and safety enhancements.
“The extraordinary challenges associated with building the new Walk Bridge … will require innovative approaches to all aspects of the program from design through construction,” the letter states. “With the primary goals being public safety and minimizing impacts on rail customers and the community, CTDOT and MNR will consider any and all reasonable opportunities to accelerate the work program.
“This spirit of innovation must also extend to public outreach. A well-informed and engaged community is more likely to be tolerant of unavoidable negative impacts during construction and more supportive of the overall program," states the letter signed by Redeker and Giulietti.
The letter also spells out schedules of meetings between various parties in order to keep robust communication and informed decision-making at the forefront.
While construction of the Walk Bridge is not scheduled to begin until mid-2018, three advance construction projects are necessary before the bridge replacement project begins.
More on the Walk Bridge Program at www.walkbridgect.com
#10
Posted 29 May 2016 - 05:43 PM
Here's why this is needed. Two days after this announcement, the bridge failed again.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
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