AMTRAK RAIL/ LIVINGSTON AVE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

FRA -Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

NYSDOT- SEQR Determination of No significant Effect (DONSE)

NYSDOT proposes to replace the Livingston Avenue Railroad Bridge.  The Environmental Assessment is now available for review. 

Public Information Meetings and Hearings were held on May 31, 2022  and June 1, 2022.

To view a recording of the virtual information meeting and hearing click here.

Transcripts are available:

• Transcript of May 31, 2022 Meeting
• Transcript of June 1, 2022 Meeting - Part 1
• Transcript of June 1, 2022 Meeting - Part 2

Anticipated Cost of the Project is $550M.

This project receives funding from the following sources:
Federal: Yes
State : Yes
Local : No

Community Outreach

Public Information Meetings and Hearings were held on May 31, 2022 and June 1, 2022 to view the recording of the virtual meeting/hearing click here.

The Public Comment Period Closed on June 15, 2022.

Environmental Determinations by the Federal Railroad Administration and NYSDOT are complete - 12/2022

The Finding of No Significant Impact by the Federal Railroad Administration is available here.

The Determination of No Significant Effect by NYSDOT is available here.

Final Design and Construction

The Design Build Letter of Intent was issued on 12/21/2022.

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Federal Railroad Administration Finding of No Signification Impact (FONSI), complete.

NYSDOT Determination of No Significant Effect  (DONSE), complete.

Download the Environmental Assessment for the Livingston Avenue Bridge Project and appendices by clicking on the links below.  Files in Adobe PDF format on this page require the Adobe Reader. You can download the free Adobe Reader from the Adobe website (www.get.adobe.com/reader/)

Chapters and Appendices:

• Cover and Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Chapter-1 Project Purpose and Need
• Chapter-2 Project Alternatives
• Chapter-3 Transportation Impacts
• Chapter-4 Social, Economic, and Environmental Considerations
• Chapter-5 Environmental Justice
• Chapter-6 Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation
• Chapter-7 Agency Coordination and Public Involvement

Draft Memorandum of Agreement for Section-106
Appendix A Design Information

• A-1 Design Report
• A-2 Plans, Profiles, and Typical Sections
• A-3 Conceptual Staging
• A-4 Detour Routes

Appendix B Environmental Information

• B-1   General Correspondence
• B-2-1 NR Correspondence
• B-2-2 Breeding Bird Atlas
• B-2-3 Wetland Delineation Reports
  • Wetland Delineation Reports 01
  • Wetland Delineation Reports 02
  • Wetland Delineation Reports 03
• B-2-4 Coastal Zone Consistency
• B-3   Noise
• B-4   USCG Section 9 Jurisdictional Checklist
• B-5   Cultural Resources
• B-6   Contaminated Materials
• B-7   Collision Diagrams
• B-8   Public Involvement Plan
• B-9   Section 4f

Appendix C Right-of-Way Information
Appendix D Navigation Study

An Environmental Assessment is an evaluation of the possible positive or negative effects that a proposed project may have on the human or natural environment. Its framework was set by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Federal Railroad Administration is the lead federal agency for the Livingston Avenue Bridge project for NEPA. The New York State Department of Transportation will serve as the lead State agency for the purposes of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act.

The public can participate in the NEPA process by attending NEPA related hearings or public meetings and by submitting comments directly to the lead agency. The Public Comment Period for the Environmental Assessment closed on June 15, 2022.To learn more about having a voice, see A Citizens Guide to NEPA authored by Council on Environmental Quality Executive Office of the President (December 2007).

Livingston Avenue Bridge Project

The Livingston Avenue Bridge spans the Hudson River connecting the cities of Albany and Rensselaer, New York by rail.  New York State DOT proposes to replace the Livingston Avenue Railroad Bridge, view renderings of the new bridge here. 

As a part of the rail network, this project is located on the Empire Corridor.  The Empire Corridor is one of eleven federally designated High Speed Rail Corridors in the United States.  The corridor accommodates passenger rail service between New York City and Niagara Falls with station stops in Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.  The Livingston Avenue Bridge is located on the Hudson Line Section of the Empire Corridor. It’s the only upstate passenger rail crossing of the Hudson River.

The project Environmental Assessment has been completed. The Finding of No Significant Impact by the Federal Railroad Administration is available here.  The Determination of No Significant Effect by NYSDOT is available here.

The current service across the bridge includes twelve Amtrak passenger trains and roughly two to six freight trains (Canadian Pacific Railway and CSX ) daily.  The bridge is a critical link for passenger rail service – as no detour is available without creating substantial delays, upwards of 2.5 hours. 

The anticipated project schedule is as follows:

Public Information Meetings and Hearings were held on May 31st (virtual) and June 1st (In Person).  To view the recording of the virtual session click here.
Environmental Assessment is available.
Public Comments were due before 5 p.m. on June 15, 2022.  The Public Comment Period is now closed.
Environmental Determination has been completed.

FRA has issued the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) concluding the NEPA review, (October 31, 2022)
NYSDOT has issued the Determination of No Significant Effect (DONSE) concluding the SEQR review, (November 1, 2022)
Project Final Design is expected to begin in Spring 2024
Construction is expected to be complete in 2028

The Livingston Avenue Bridge spans the Hudson River connecting Albany to the west and Rensselaer to the east. It is a critical link in the New York State Empire Rail Corridor. The Empire Corridor stretches 463 miles from New York City to Niagara Falls.

The Livingston Avenue Bridge, due to its age and function as a vital crossing of the Hudson River, is one of the most important pieces of the Empire Corridor network that needs upgrading. The bridge is owned by CSX Transportation and is used by approximately 14 Amtrak passenger trains and 6 freight trains per day. The Livingston Avenue Bridge is a swing type bridge that opens when taller ships traveling on the Hudson River need to pass through.

View of the South Side of LAB from the Shoreline of the City of Rensselaer

View of LAB from the City of Albany's pedestrian overpass spanning I-787 (looking north)

View of the South Side of LAB from Albany's Riverfront Park (Corning Preserve)

View of the West End of LAB from the Corning Preserve

View from the Corning Preserve of the Park Road and Bike Trail going under the LAB

View of the Western End of the LAB from the Albany Side (looking east)

Currently, the New York State Department of Transportation is evaluating how to maintain this important Hudson River crossing and bring it up to current railroad industry standards.

• Owned by CSX Transportation
• Stone piers constructed in 1866
• Existing steel superstructure erected in 1901
• 4 Truss Spans, 1 Truss Swing Span and 4 Girder Spans
• Eligible for listing on the National Register and State Register of Historic Places
• Designed in 1901 for trains half the size of modern standards
• Trains cross one at a time at 15 MPH
• Unreliable swing span, leads to unpredictable and often of significant delays to both rail and marine traffic
• Vertical and horizontal clearances are below current rail standards
• Approximately 14 Amtrak passenger trains and 6 freight train crossings per day
• Swing span opens about 400 times per year

Project Location: