WASHINGTON D.C. - The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Portal Bridge Capacity Enhancement Project over the Hackensack River, between Secaucus and Kearny. The Portal Bridge is a two-track, moveable swing-span Rail Bridge over the Hackensack River between the two municipalities. The 961-foot span bridge is no longer functionally suitable for efficient rail operations in the Northeast Corridor.
Since it has only 23 feet of clearance between high water and its lowest beams, bridge openings are required to allow marine vessels 24-feet tall or more the Hackensack River to pass through. The amount of time required to open and close the bridge for marine traffic interferes with rail operations on a regular basis.
The frequent bridge openings also increase the likelihood of mechanical malfunctions, which have caused the bridge to remain in the open position for what seems like an eternity to commuters, causing system-wide delays in train service. That's an increasingly frustrating reality for the 150,000-plus passengers who travel back and forth on Amtrak or NJ Transit each day.
The FRA has decided to proceed with the a three-track fixed northern bridge, a two-track moveable southern bridge built on a new southern alignment, and a track over track grade separation to eliminate crossover movements.
This project is expected to cost $1.344 billion in 2008 dollars and take 66 months to complete. Replacing the bridge with additional tracks will result in enhanced capacity, improved service, and operational flexibility.
The existing Portal Bridge is a two-track, moveable swing-span bridge that was constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad and began operation in 1910. The bridge, owned by Amtrak, is a bottleneck along the Northeast Corridor that conflicts with marine traffic and impedes efficient and reliable passenger rail service. Nearly 500 trains utilize the bridge every weekday, and both Amtrak and NJ Transit anticipate additional growth in the future.
Better yet is that once the Access to the Region's Core - the new $9 billion rail tunnel project that will run under the Hudson River and is being orchestrated by the Transit and Port Authority of NY/NJ - we'll be able to zap over to Manhattan via the Transit station we've been hearing will be built on Bergen and Schuyler Avenue. But then a lot of us will be retired by the time this big money, long-term project comes to fruition. Just thought you'd like to mull that information over for the new year, or at least start to think about living where you work. It's the sustainable, Green thing to do.
Since it has only 23 feet of clearance between high water and its lowest beams, bridge openings are required to allow marine vessels 24-feet tall or more the Hackensack River to pass through. The amount of time required to open and close the bridge for marine traffic interferes with rail operations on a regular basis.
The frequent bridge openings also increase the likelihood of mechanical malfunctions, which have caused the bridge to remain in the open position for what seems like an eternity to commuters, causing system-wide delays in train service. That's an increasingly frustrating reality for the 150,000-plus passengers who travel back and forth on Amtrak or NJ Transit each day.
The FRA has decided to proceed with the a three-track fixed northern bridge, a two-track moveable southern bridge built on a new southern alignment, and a track over track grade separation to eliminate crossover movements.
This project is expected to cost $1.344 billion in 2008 dollars and take 66 months to complete. Replacing the bridge with additional tracks will result in enhanced capacity, improved service, and operational flexibility.
The existing Portal Bridge is a two-track, moveable swing-span bridge that was constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad and began operation in 1910. The bridge, owned by Amtrak, is a bottleneck along the Northeast Corridor that conflicts with marine traffic and impedes efficient and reliable passenger rail service. Nearly 500 trains utilize the bridge every weekday, and both Amtrak and NJ Transit anticipate additional growth in the future.
Better yet is that once the Access to the Region's Core - the new $9 billion rail tunnel project that will run under the Hudson River and is being orchestrated by the Transit and Port Authority of NY/NJ - we'll be able to zap over to Manhattan via the Transit station we've been hearing will be built on Bergen and Schuyler Avenue. But then a lot of us will be retired by the time this big money, long-term project comes to fruition. Just thought you'd like to mull that information over for the new year, or at least start to think about living where you work. It's the sustainable, Green thing to do.
