Amtrak Bridges And Crossings In Poor Condition

Nearly 50% of city bridges and crossings used by Amtrak trains have components rated in "poor" or worse conditions, according to inspection reports. The Post sheds harsh light on the "crumbling conditions" of spans over the Bronx River, thoroughfares like Dyckman Street, and bridges in Queens. One that crosses from 135th to 125th Street along Manhattan's West Side "received consistent 'serious' rankings for beams and other metal supports, along with several 'poor' floor problems." Amtrak officials, who downplay the results of the inspections, lament the meager budget given over for repairs, with only a fraction of the $1.4 billion budget in federal funds allocated for them: "Is $40 million enough to paint every bridge? No, it's not."

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By Ben Yakas in News on November 30, 2009 5:51 PM

Comments [rss]

wingedearth

The federal government takes our money by talking about public services, but then spends our money on war profiteers and Wall Street bailouts. Where's the accountability? And why did people think things would "change" under Obama, who championed the bailouts?

longacre

The 31st St arch was covered with scaffolding earlier this year, I wonder if it has been repaired since the study was completed. The rest of the New York Connecting Railroad (the viaduct that runs through Astoria and Woodside connecting Hell Gate Bridge to Penn Station and Brooklyn freight lines) appears to be in tip-top condition as far as NY bridges and overpasses go...no rust, fresh paint.

pinball29

When a bridge finally collapses, sending hundreds of people off the tracks, the scumbags in Washington will be tripping over their corrupt asses to blame anyone but themselves. Amtrak is yet another example of why we need a better plan for health care than to have these idiots in charge of anything. REELECT NOONE.

wingedearth

You mean Amtrak is an example of why we don't want our federal government in charge of our healthcare, right?

Instead of bridges and crossings in "poor condition" it'll be Americans' health in poor condition.

MaximusNYC

The health care bill currently in Congress doesn't involve putting the federal government "in charge of our health care." It keeps almost everyone in private health insurance plans, but regulates the insurance companies more strictly.

TKaisen

lament the meager budget given over for repairs,

Dear Amtrak,

Maybe your budget would be better if you didn't do things like cancel trains the day before Thanksgiving, you unbelievable asses. Thanks for ruining the holiday!

Sincerely,

Tkaisen

kane

If only the federal government had subsidized the company for its entire life...

MaximusNYC

If only the federal government subsidized the tracks and bridges that Amtrak uses to the same degree that it subsidizes the roads and bridges of the interstate highway system... or the air traffic control system.

I never hear libertarians complaining about "wasteful" government spending on highways or air traffic control.

Why are subsidies for rail bad, and subsidies for other transportation systems OK?

Shinobi Shaw

The US needs to get its act together when it comes to its crumbling infrastructure or it will fall behind (as it already hass) to the other developed countries.

jaycjay

"Nearly 50% of city bridges and crossings used by Amtrak trains have components rated in "poor" or worse conditions"

Coincidentally, nearly the same percentage of city residents rated in poor or worse condition.

bitchincamaro

And water is wet.

mrguy

and the saddest thing is that those bridges are part of the most profitable part of amtrak real estate- the Boston-ny-DC corridor. i suppose somebody will care when a train full of people winds up INSIDE the Harlem Fairway.