SCHUMER SECURES WHOPPING $215 MILLION IN FED FUNDING FOR AGING LIVINGSTON AVENUE RAIL BRIDGE – LARGEST CRISI AWARD EVER – TO REPLACE BRIDGE SPANNING THE HUDSON RIVER BETWEEN ALBANY AND RENSSELAER
Award For Livingston Avenue Bridge Will Help Replace 125 Year Old Structure & Civil War-Era Piers & Is Largest CRISI Award EVER – Federal Funding For Rail Infrastructure Improvements – In The History Of The Program
Schumer Relentlessly Advocated To Fund Bridge Placement Project, Calling On US Transportation Secretary & Amtrak CEO To Deliver Resources For Critical Infrastructure Improvement In Capital Region
Schumer: New Bridge Over The Hudson Will Ensure Service And Reliability Of Key Connection To Points West and North Of The Albany/Rensselaer Station, While Allowing For Nautical Traffic Along The River & Finally Establishing A Long Dreamt Of Pedestrian Connection
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced $215,104,000 in federal funding for the replacement of the Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge, some of which dates back to the Civil War-era, spanning the Hudson River between Albany and Rensselaer. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which Schumer fought to increase funding for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, and is the largest CRISI award announced in the history of the program.
“The Livingston Avenue Bridge provides the only viable passenger rail passage across the Hudson River, between Albany and Rensselaer, but it is approximately 125 years old and rests on piers from the Civil War-era and has deteriorated significantly, putting upstate passenger rail and rover traffic at risk. This whopping $215+ million in federal funding will help replace the bridge, improving service and reliability along the Empire Corridor, ensure river traffic flow, and provide a long desired pedestrian link as well,” said Senator Schumer. “It’s a good day to have the Senate Majority Leader represent the Capital Region. This bridge is the key link that allows passenger travel between New York City and points west of Rensselaer, across Upstate, and north to Montreal. I’ve fought tirelessly to deliver the resources necessary to make this project possible, from fighting to increase funding for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law and then personally calling Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to secure this grant. I’m proud that the program is delivering BIG – the largest award in the history of the program – for the Capital Region and all of Upstate today.”
The Livingston Avenue Bridge replacement project will replace the passenger rail bridge spanning the Hudson River between Albany and Rensselaer. The new bridge will allow simultaneous two-track operation and remove speed restrictions, improving service and reliability along the Empire Corridor while keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe.
Schumer has relentlessly advocated to secure federal funding for this project, personally calling U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg earlier this year and previously urging the CEO of Amtrak to work in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation and CSX to address the future of the Livingston Avenue Bridge. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul announced $634.8 million in state funding to replace the bridge.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, which Schumer crafted and led to passage in the Senate, included $5 billion over five years for the CRISI program. The program invests in various projects within the United States to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability; mitigate congestion at both intercity passenger and freight rail chokepoints to support more efficient travel and goods movement; enhance multi-modal connections; and lead to new or substantially improved Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation corridors.
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