Walkway Over the Hudson acquired the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad bridge in the 1990s, hoping to rehabilitate the abandoned span into a public pedestrian walkway. Nearly 15 years later, they’re picking up some major steam.
One major development is particularly encouraging: The New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation (DPRH) is poised to assume lead agency status for the project’s State Environmental Quality Review Act-mandated review.
This translates into a tremendous boost for Walkway’s efforts, said Fred Schaeffer, chairman of the 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to transform the bridge into the longest shore-to-shore pedestrian walkway in the world.
“Our first choice for the walkway projects is for it to become a state park, and we have been talking to New York State’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation, and they’re very much interested in working out something with us where it would become a state park,” he said.
As lead agency, DPRH would have the final say in many aspects of the SEQRA process, making key decisions about design, scheduling and funding throughout the bridge’s rehabilitation. The DEC awards lead agency to one organization to create consistency in the environmental assessment process.
Of course, other agencies can still play large roles in the bridge’s transformation. For example, said Schaeffer, Walkway still expects to coordinate the physical manifestation of the shared vision. “They (DPRH) prefer us to do the construction and to build it, and, from there, to work on a transition where it would become a state park,” he said. While construction must be done to meet state standards and qualifications, the DPRH will partner with Walkway to determine the details of construction.
Schaeffer intimated that the group would like to explore amenities including full paving of the span, lighting, benches, parking and an elevator from the bridge to the Poughkeepsie waterfront. The groups are also pondering the possibility of keeping the walkway open 24 hours a day, which could necessitate additional security features, such as surveillance cameras.
Though not yet official, a determination of lead agency is on the agenda for the Wednesday, Dec. 5, meeting of the Ulster County Planning Board. Walkway Executive Director Amy Husten believes it’s close to a done deal. “I know that letters have gone out about them (DPRH) being lead agency. I think that we’re just in between papers now,” said Husten.
Prior to consideration of assuming lead agency, the DPRH granted approximately $145,000 towards an engineering feasibility study for the project. On Thursday, Nov. 29, Walkway received an additional $500,000 from the state organization for construction costs.
“It’s just a tremendous spirit of cooperation and interest by New York State to get the project done. I think it’s a very good sign that they’re seriously committed to the process,” said Schaeffer.
Engineering firm Bergmann Associates Inc. is nearing completion of their preliminary inspections and engineering. The final engineering report is expected in four to six weeks. Estimated yearlong construction of the walkway could begin as early as fall 2008, with a Sept. 2009 completion just in time for the valley’s Hudson-Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration.
Opened for commerce in 1888, the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was nicknamed “The Great Connector.” At 6,767 feet, it was the longest bridge in the world. Originally designed for commercial train traffic, it allowed for transportation of goods high above the Hudson – at 212 feet tall, it remains the highest bridge over the river.
Donations help fuel Walkway effort
Recent donations from Best Buy and the Adirondack Mountain Club are helping to fuel Walkway Over the Hudson’s surging grassroots effort to transform the historic Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into a public park soaring high above the Hudson River.
On Wednesday, Dec. 5, a representative from the national retail corporation Best Buy presented Walkway Over the Hudson with a check for $1,000 from the Best Buy Children’s Foundation’s Tag Team Awards program, which donates funds to community non-profits that have received up to 40 hours of volunteer service from Best Buy employees.
Adirondack Mountain Club Chair Lalita Malik and Co-chair Peter McGinnis also attended the event, held at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum along the Poughkeepsie waterfront, and presented Walkway Chairman Fred Schaeffer with a $500 check. Members of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the non-profit hiking and advocacy organization voted to make the donation as a gesture of support for Walkway’s effort to transform the long-defunct railroad bridge into a pedestrian walkway that, when completed, would link rail trails on both sides of the Hudson.
“These donations – one from a leading retail giant and the other from an esteemed local recreational club – represent the type of broad-based support Walkway has been able to generate,” said Schaeffer.
Walkway Over the Hudson and Executive Director Amy Husten can be reached at 790-6334 or by e-mail at ahusten@walkway.org.