The Portal Bridge

[ThirdRail]

Speaking of Portal:

FRA completes final environmental report for New Jersey bridge replacement

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Amtrak and New Jersey Transit's Portal Bridge project.

Traversing the Hackensack River, the bridge is nearly 100 years old. The FEIS recommends the railroads replace the structure with a three-track, fixed northern bridge and a two-track, movable southern bridge, both on new alignments.

Nearly 500 trains cross the bridge each weekday, and Amtrak and NJ Transit expect additional traffic growth. The FEIS-proposed project would increase capacity, improve service and provide more operational flexibility over the river, the FRA said.

[TKturnpike]

Great picture of the fire, ThirdRail!  Much better than the one I had in mind.  Thanks!
Also, thanks for the FRA news.
 I know that hindsight is 20/20, but this bridge should have been addressed when they were building Secaucus.

[ThirdRail]

NEW JERSEY APPLIES FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDING
By Governors Press...

NEW JERSEY APPLIES FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDING
Seeks funding for Portal Bridge project as part of federal government’s plan to advance high-speed passenger rail service

 

TRENTON — Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that New Jersey completed its application for federal funding for a project to replace and expand Portal Bridge—a nearly 100-year-old span that carries Northeast Corridor train traffic over the Hackensack River just west of Secaucus.  The application is through the federal government’s program to advance high-speed passenger rail service in the United States.

 

“We strongly support the federal government’s vision to boost passenger rail service in this country,” said Governor Corzine.  “With its location on the busiest portion of the most active passenger railroad in North America, the Portal Bridge project is vital to providing faster, better rail service for our future.”

 

New Jersey is among several Northeast states that applied for funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program.  Through the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG), the Northeast states worked collaboratively for months to review proposed improvement projects for the Northeast Corridor and its Connectors serving northern New England, Upstate New York and Pennsylvania.   

 
The proposed upgrades will cut trip times between major cities, improve service reliability, extend service to additional communities, and help fulfill President Obama’s vision of making high-speed passenger rail an integral part of America’s transportation system.     

“The benefits of a new Portal Bridge will extend to local and long-distance rail travelers alike,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman Stephen Dilts.  “It will increase capacity, improve reliability and reduce delays for the commuters who travel on the Northeast Corridor here in New Jersey and across the region.”

 

“By reducing delays associated with the bridge’s operation, the Portal Bridge project will have an immediate impact on thousands of our customers,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles.  “It will also address a major chokepoint on the Northeast Corridor and provide the expanded capacity needed to realize the full potential of the Mass Transit Tunnel.”

 

In New Jersey, replacement of the Portal Bridge will eliminate a major bottleneck and source of delays on the Northeast Corridor that NJ TRANSIT shares with Amtrak, by providing additional capacity and improving reliability.

 

Today, nearly 500 NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak trains—including the high-speed Acela service—use the existing two-track swing bridge.  The bridge now operates near capacity during peak periods, carrying 23 trains per hour in the peak direction.

 

With a new, expanded Portal Bridge, all states that have stations located on the Northeast Corridor or its feeder routes will benefit from higher speeds and improved reliability.

 

NJ TRANSIT is advancing the project in partnership with Amtrak—owner of the existing bridge—the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.  To date, NJ TRANSIT has completed preliminary engineering and has begun early work on the final design.

 

About CONEG

 

The Coalition of Northeastern Governors is a non-partisan organization that encourages cooperative action on northeast regional issues.  The CONEG Governors include:   David Paterson of New York, Chairman; Don Carcieri of Rhode Island, Vice-Chair; Jon Corzine of New Jersey, Transportation Lead Governor; M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut; Deval Patrick of Massachusetts; John Baldacci of Maine; John Lynch of New Hampshire; and Jim Douglas of Vermont.

[JerseyGuy]

Speaking of the Portal Bridge, I was forced off the train in Newark this Saturday because the circuit breaker that controls the portal bridge opening had popped, and the Portal Bridge was stuck open. It seemed like most of the passengers on the train had never taken a PATH train in their life.

[ThirdRail]

If we replace this bridge, what will we have to complain about? 

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091210/BIZ/912109975/-1/NEWS

NJ Transit awards contract to replace major commuter bottleneck

By Judy Rife
Times Herald-Record
Posted: December 10, 2009 - 11:19 AM

NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit awarded $87.7 million worth of contracts this week to advanced replacement of the Portal Bridge to final design.

Replacing Amtrak’s ancient swing bridge over the Hackensack River is a critical part of the NJ Transit-Port Authority project to build a new commuter rail tunnel to Midtown. Tunnel boring will begin early next year.

The two-track bridge, which carries Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor tracks into New York Penn Station, will be replaced with a stationary $1.7 billion five-track structure that will serve both the new and the old tunnels beneath the Hudson.

The new bridge will be high enough to allow Hackensack River ship traffic to pass underneath – ending the routine disruptions to train service. It is scheduled to be completed by 2017, in concert with the new tunnel.

About 150,000 NJ Transit customers on 350 trains cross the Portal Bridge every day. Amtrak’s trains carry another 30,000 passengers.

[CrudeBoy]

We'll always have Secaucus...

[PJrider]

The two-track bridge, which carries Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor tracks into New York Penn Station, will be replaced with a stationary $1.7 billion five-track structure that will serve both the new and the old tunnels beneath the Hudson.

I thought the plan was for two bridges - did that change?

[ThirdRail]

The two-track bridge, which carries Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor tracks into New York Penn Station, will be replaced with a stationary $1.7 billion five-track structure that will serve both the new and the old tunnels beneath the Hudson.

I thought the plan was for two bridges - did that change?

I guess the plan has changed PJrider.  Who the hell knows why. I can;t wait to see this new fixed bridge. They'll need a helper job at Secaucus to make it high enough.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/012810_Funding_for_Portal_Bridge_in_high-speed_rail_annoucement.html

NJ funding for portal bridge in high-speed rail announcement
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Last updated: Thursday January 28, 2010, 11:37 AM
BY TOM DAVIS
The Record
STATE HOUSE BUREAU


NJ Transit has the money to begin replacing a 100-year-old movable bridge that serves thousands of train passengers each day - but frequently gets stuck.

New Jersey's senators have secured $38.5 million to pay for the construction of a bridge that, they say, will "improve reliability and reduce trip times."

New Jersey and NJ Transit officials say the project is an essential component of a plan to build an $8.7 billion mass transit tunnel connecting New Jersey and Manhattan.

Both will serve the Northeast Corridor, which runs through central New Jersey. The senators hope the replacement project will help secure NJ Transit's $3 billion federal funding request for the tunnel.

The senators said they were able to secure the money because of President Obama's plan, announced during his State of the Union address Wednesday night, to spend $8 billion on high-speed rail.

“This is about creating local jobs, promoting an efficient high speed rail system and building the new mass transit tunnel that will benefit our economy for years into the future," said Robert Menendez, D-N.J. "It is the type of investment that pays dividends for New Jerseyans both immediately and for decades to come.”

The two-track "Portal" swing bridge between Kearny and Secaucus will be replaced with a a 3-track, fixed span bridge. The project is expected to be completed by 2017.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said the investment is made through a grants program and authorized in legislation he sponsored that funds high speed rail projects.

“This is great news for New Jersey," he said.  "If we provide convenient, reliable rail transportation, people will choose it.  This funding for the Portal Bridge project will help improve our rail service, while creating jobs for our residents and moving us one step closer to completing the tunnel project.”

NJ Transit has the money to begin replacing a 100-year-old movable bridge that serves thousands of train passengers each day - but frequently gets stuck.

New Jersey's senators have secured $38.5 million to pay for the construction of a bridge that, they say, will "improve reliability and reduce trip times."

New Jersey and NJ Transit officials say the project is an essential component of a plan to build an $8.7 billion mass transit tunnel connecting New Jersey and Manhattan.

Both will serve the Northeast Corridor, which runs through central New Jersey. The senators hope the replacement project will help secure NJ Transit's $3 billion federal funding request for the tunnel.

The senators said they were able to secure the money because of President Obama's plan, announced during his State of the Union address Wednesday night, to spend $8 billion on high-speed rail.

“This is about creating local jobs, promoting an efficient high speed rail system and building the new mass transit tunnel that will benefit our economy for years into the future," said Robert Menendez, D-N.J. "It is the type of investment that pays dividends for New Jerseyans both immediately and for decades to come.”

The two-track "Portal" swing bridge between Kearny and Secaucus will be replaced with a a 3-track, fixed span bridge. The project is expected to be completed by 2017.

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said the investment is made through a grants program and authorized in legislation he sponsored that funds high speed rail projects.

“This is great news for New Jersey," he said.  "If we provide convenient, reliable rail transportation, people will choose it.  This funding for the Portal Bridge project will help improve our rail service, while creating jobs for our residents and moving us one step closer to completing the tunnel project.”

[ThirdRail]

I noticed a blog about a bike path over Portal and assumed I was too exhausted to fully comprehend what was written. Apparently, I was right the first time. Some nimrod actually thinks it's a good idea to have a bike/pedestrian path on Portal Bridge!

I can't think of a more horrible idea! 

http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2010/02/08/advocates-want-bikeped-path-as-part-of-portal-bridge-project/




Advocates Want Bike/Ped Path as Part of Portal Bridge Project
By Jon Whiten • Feb 8th, 2010 • Category: Blog, News

Last month, the Obama administration announced a whopping $8 billion in federal stimulus money that is going to 31 states to build and plan for high speed rail. As part of that, New Jersey has been tapped to receive $38.5 million for the reconstruction the Portal Bridge, a century-old structure that takes Amtrak and NJ Transit trains over the Hackensack River in Hudson County.

Construction on two new bridges is expected to commence sometime late next year, and last for nearly six years. The estimated cost of the project, which will help increase capacity on the Northeast Corridor line, is more than $1 billion.

As part of the plan, Hudson County has filed a request with the state Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Acres Program, proposing to cede 2.56 acres of land in Laurel Hill Park to the project. Bicycle advocates see this as an opportunity to get a new bicycle and pedestrian path over the Hackensack. They point to a state law that says NJ Transit has to give land back to the county, by either doubling the total acreage taken, doubling the dollar value of the land taken, or a combination of the two. And they are calling on their supporters to put pressure on the county to push for a path.

“We just want biking and walking access,” says Michael Oliva of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, which aims to create a nearly 3,000-mile bicycle and pedestrian route from Maine to Florida. He says that there is currently no access being offered on the Portal Bridge project, and when his group has pushed it, they’ve met resistance from officials, who mostly cite safety and national security concerns.

Specifically, the Greenway group wants 2 miles of 20-foot wide trail to take the greenway off-road from the Belleville Turnpike in Kearny to West Side Avenue in Jersey City, near the Hudson Generating Station (see the green line in the map at the top of this story).

Advocates has long seen this area of Hudson County as one of the more difficult segments to figure out, with its heavily-trafficked roads, numerous bodies of water, heavy industry and rail lines. Currently, you can cross the Hackensack on bike or on foot via the Route 7/Wittpenn Bridge, but it can be a harrowing experience. That bridge is also being replaced, and the state Department of Transportation says the new bridge will accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic. But the exact plans are still being hammered out, with the proposed bicycle lane currently consisting only of an 8-foot shoulder on the roadway, right next to the proposed vehicle traffic, according to Oliva.

“There is a lot of progress to be made on that bridge still,” he says of the Wittpenn. Moreover, Oliva rightly points out, even if there is dedicated access on the bridge, it’s not exactly easy getting to the bridge. “[That's] an even bigger concern.”

Getting back to the Portal Bridge, Oliva says the “potential is incredible” for a path which could serve as a key part of a pathway linking New Jersey’s two largest cities, Newark and Jersey City. He adds that the path would serve as a complement the continued revitalization of the Hackensack Riverfront in Jersey City, where the Marion Greenway Park is slated to transform a former toxic site that sits in the shadow of the Pulaski Skyway into a 30-plus acre park.

Oliva and the Greenway advocates are calling on supporters to attend a public hearing on Hudson County’s land transfer this Wednesday, from 6 to 8:30 pm, at the Secaucus Public Library (1379 Paterson Plank Rd.).

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can submit written comments until Feb. 24. You can mail them to to Laurie Cotter, deputy county administrator, 567 Pavonia Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07305. The county asks that you send a copy of your comments to the DEP as well — New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship, P.O. Box 412, Trenton, NJ 08625-0412.

[mhnj]

20-foot wide trail?! yeah, that wouldn't boost the cost of the bridge much.

[yellowbird]

and how many other places in nj do you see a legal bike path next to a railroad?
and seriously, how many people would actually use this path?  i dont see too many people riding a bike on the belleville tpk.....

[ThirdRail]

The railroads might not have a lot of options when it comes to this plan:

Because the new portal crossing will take up about 2.5 acres of Hudson County land in Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, by law, NJ Transit must offer something in compensation.

This problem would have been avoided in they rebuilt Portal Bridge before they built Secaucus Junction! 

http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/6220380/article-Advancing-long-bike-hike-path-through-Secaucus-NJ-Transit-to-hold-public-hearing-in-town-?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

Advancing long bike/hike path through Secaucus
NJ Transit to hold public hearing in town
by E. Assata Wright
Reporter staff writer


Cyclists, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts hope to use an upcoming public hearing in Secaucus to build support for a long bikepath called the East Coast Greenway.

NJ Transit will host the public hearing next month to get comments on two rail bridges that will carry rail traffic north and south over the Hackensack River. These bridges will replace the existing century-old Portal Bridge to form a major link in the Northeast Corridor rail line that runs from Washington, D.C. to Boston. The route is used by both Amtrak and NJ Transit trains.

But the path also happens to coincide with the cycling/hiking route mapped out by the East Coast Greenway Alliance, an organization that is advocating for a 3,000-mile contiguous urban bike and foot path from Maine to Florida.

Because the new portal crossing will take up about 2.5 acres of Hudson County land in Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, by law, NJ Transit must offer something in compensation. East Coast Greenway Alliance advocates would like the compensation to be in the form of bike/walking paths that run alongside the rails, similar to a structure at New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge.

Hudson County is difficult

The East Coast Greenway was started by cyclists and hikers in 1991 to plan the U.S. counterpart to the EuroVelo paths throughout Europe.

About 21 percent of the Greenway path can presently be biked or hiked, activists consider the portion of the trail between Jersey City and Newark – a section of the path that includes the Meadowlands region – to be the most difficult to complete.

“That portion of the trail has been the toughest to get going,” said Michael Oliva, New Jersey field director for the East Coast Greenway, last week. “The route between Jersey City and Newark, much of it is unpaved. Much of it along highways. Some of it isn’t particularly safe. We would like to see a continuous path that’s safe. We don’t necessarily want to see bike lanes everyplace, because they can actually be somewhat dangerous for bikers. But we certainly advocate for bike paths and sharrows.”

Sharrors are bike signs painted in the middle of streets to alert drivers that cyclists may be using the road.

The bridges

NJ Transit is planning the $5.3 million bridge project, in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and Amtrak, which owns the Portal Bridge.

NJ Transit has met several times with Greenway activists, Oliva said, but the agency has yet to commit to the concept.

In fact, the agency thinks the Greenway path, as planned, may be unworkable. “It just doesn’t seem very practical to have a bike path on a bridge built for trains,” said NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel last week. “We continue to evaluate their proposal, which is a good one and has merit. But adding the Greenway concept to the portal crossing would need to be thoroughly explored – for both practical reasons and for safety reasons.”

But Oliva points to bridges in other areas, most notably in New York City, that have combined rails, cars, and bike/foot traffic with no problems.

“There are about 12 bridges I could name that have successfully combined bike and foot paths alongside rail tracks and roads, and there haven’t been any problems,” he said.

Avid cyclist and Secaucus resident Joe Traum agrees. “In New York, there are many people who are able to bike to work, even though they may live in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan,” he said. “In many places in northern New Jersey you can’t do that. I support any project that makes it easier for people to cycle safely, and to bike for any number of reasons: leisure, exercise, fun, and basic travel.”

E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.