Walkway Over the Hudson is poised to receive $8 million of Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposed 2008 New York State budget.
Fred Schaeffer, chairman of Walkway Over the Hudson, the 501 c(3) organization seeking to transform the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into the longest shore-to-shore pedestrian walkway in the world, credits Congressman Maurice Hinchey with the state funding for the Hudson Valley project. “I’m very happy with Congressman Hinchey’s continued support of the Walkway project,” Schaeffer said. “He was the first one to support us fully, through a federal transportation grant, and I think he’s very much on line with the fact that it happens to be a great investment.”
The walkway’s potential to buttress tourism – New York’s second largest industry – and to draw new residents and businesses to the area attracted both public and private investors. To date, this includes $895,000 from the federal government’s transportation bill, a $874,000 Transportation Initiative Project (TIP) grant and a $1.5 million investment by the Dyson Foundation.
“Whatever is invested in the walkway will come back to the area in tax dollars,” said Schaeffer.
When the state budget passes the legislature, the $8 million for Walkway would provide a huge boost to rejuvenation efforts. According to an optimistic schedule, the funds would allow preliminary construction as early as May, discarding old deck panels and building new ones which could be delivered as early as September. Walkway is currently finalizing the deck design with state engineers.
Construction could be finished in 2009, just in time for the area’s Henry Hudson Quadricentennial Celebration, a yearlong event honoring the discovery of the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. Spitzer has earmarked an additional $7 million for the quadricentennial.
“I’ve worked very aggressively over the past years to fund and support these critical projects and am very pleased that we have a governor who is willing to step in and support them with state funds,” said Hinchey, who is widely expected to run for reelection this November. “I recognize the very difficult financial circumstances facing the governor and legislature. There are many difficult choices that need to be made, and I am grateful to governor Spitzer for still finding ways to target important state aid to the Hudson Valley.”
Schaeffer was “confident” that the budget will pass with funds for the Walkway intact. The group has asked the state for $16 million overall to complete the project, and is hoping funds will be matched in 2009. “We’re optimistic that (Spitzer) will continue to support the project next year,” said Schaeffer.
Nicknamed “The Great Connector,” the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge opened for commercial train traffic in 1888. At 6,767 feet, it was the longest bridge in the world. It remains the highest bridge over the Hudson River at 212 feet tall.