Directs the New York state bridge authority to acquire and maintain the walkway over the Hudson bridge

Summary of provision

Section 1 of the bill would set forth legislative findings.

Section 2 of the bill would add a a new subdivision, Public Authorities Law ("PAL") § 526 (7-b), which defines the Poughkeepsie-Highland railroad bridge as "Walkway Over the Hudson Bridge".

Section 3 of the bill would amend PAL § 526(9) to add Walkway over the Hudson to the term "bridges".

Section 4 of the bill would amend PAL § 528(1-a), authorizing the Authority to accept the Walkway over the Hudson Bridge and incidental roads, approaches, structures and facilities.

Section 5 of the bill would add a new subdivision, PAL § 528(1-b), authorizing the Authority to accepts gifts.

Section 6 of the bill would amend PAL § 528(8) to prohibit the tolling of the Walkway over the Hudson Bridge.

Section 7 of the bill would add a new subdivision, PAL § 528(17), authorizing the Authority to enter into a lease or operating agreement with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for oversight over the deck of the bridge where a state park would be maintained. The Authority would be responsible for maintaining the superstructure of the Walkway over the Hudson Bridge.

Section 8 of the bill would amend PAL § 529(2) to authorize municipalities to dedicate real property, or easements, to the Authority.

Section 9 provides for an immediate effective date.

Existing law

PAL Title 2 authorizes the Authority to maintain five bridges: (1) Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge; (2) Rip Van Winkle Bridge;

(3) Bear Mountain Bridge; (4) Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon Bridge; and (5) Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.

Prior legislative history

None.

Justification

The Poughkeepsie-Highland railroad bridge spans the Hudson River and connects the City of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County with the Town of Lloyd in Ulster County. The first cornerstone was laid in 1873 and the bridge opened in 1888. The bridge is 6,767 feet long (approximately 1.25 miles). The top of the bridge deck is 212 feet above the water and the width expands from 24 feet over land, to 35 feet over the Hudson River (it is higher than the Brooklyn Bridge). At the time it was built it was one of the longest bridges in the world. During World War II, over 3,500 train cars crossed the bridge daily. The bridge went out of service in 1974. It is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The bridge currently is owned by the not-for-profit organization Walkway Over the Hudson which is converting the bridge to a free, pedestrian only bridge which will provide public access to the Hudson River's scenic landscape for pedestrians, hikers, joggers, bicyclists, and people with disabilities. It will also connect with an extensive network of rail-trails, parks and communities on both sides of the river. This bill will allow OPRHP to operate the public park on the bridge while the Authority will be responsible for maintaining the superstructure. When completed in the Fall of 2009, it will be the longest pedestrian bridge in the world and will be a legacy of the Hudson- Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial commemoration.

An independent economic impact study has concluded that the Walkway over the Hudson bridge will generate an estimated $14.6 million annually in new direct spending by visitors to Dutchess and Ulster Counties. These expenditures will result in a total of $21 million per year of new economic activity regionally and statewide. Construction activity on the bridge will result in the creation of 258 new jobs. In addition, it is expected the bridge will generate $1.3 million annually in new overall tax revenue to local, county and state governments.

Fiscal implications

OPRHP estimates that there will be a fiscal impact of $295,000 to operate and maintain the "public" portion of the Walkway. This would support 3 staff, seasonal staff and associated non-personal service costs associated with the Walkway over the Hudson's operations and would generally include the portions of the bridge to which the public would have access. These resources will be secured from the OPRHP budget. Additionally, the Authority will incur costs of approximately $2.1 million per year over the next five years to maintain and support the superstructure of the Walkway over the

Hudson Bridge, the land below the bridge and any other lands transferred.

Effective date

The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.