Schumer to Amtrak: Use federal windfall to fix key Albany train bridge

ALBANY — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is urging Amtrak to prioritize repairing the historic 120-year-old Livingston Avenue Bridge that carries rail service across the Hudson River from Rensselaer to Albany after receiving a $22 billion windfall from the $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

Amtrak has $16 billion to spend on its national network, including the Livingston Avenue Bridge, which was completed in 1902 and is older than even the ancient tunnels that Amtrak uses in New York City.

Schumer revealed Tuesday that he sent a letter to Amtrak CEO William Flynn urging that he prioritize fixing the bridge when he decides how to spend the $16 billion on his national network.

The repairs to the bridge are critical because if it were to fail, it would disrupt rail travel north and west of Rensselaer and also maritime travel on the Hudson River, since the Livingston Avenue bridge has a mechanism to swing the bridge to allow boats through.

Read more: https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Schumer-to-Amtrak-Use-federal-windfall-to-fix-16663015.php