A lot of exposed railroad tracks crisscross Queens County and many people use pedestrian bridges to cross over them safely.
However, the renovations and upgrades to several pedestrian bridges contracted for design phase between 2006 and 2008 have not taken place, and according to community members, not only have the disabled been inconvenienced due to the lack of ramps, but the bridges have become unsafe due to eroding cement staircases and insufficient lighting.
“In the winter, sheets of ice form on the steps and it’s very dangerous” said Carly Fox, director of school programs and community partnerships at the Pan American International High School (PAIHS), which abuts the 94th Street pedestrian bridge in Elmhurst. Fox, along with the community organization Make The Road New York, have written letters to local elected and appointed officials about the safety concerns around this bridge. “Even [Queens Department of Transportation] Commissioner Maura McCarthy, who toured the site, confirmed and agreed that the bridge was in need of repair.”
The 94th Street at 45th Avenue bridge and four other bridges that cross over Long Island Railroad (LIRR) tracks – 51st Avenue at 21st Street, 55 Avenue at 85th Street, 167 Street at Depot Road, and 216 Street at 42nd Avenue – have been considered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for rehabilitation since 2006. These bridges are under DOT jurisdiction because they connect city street space, even though they go over LIRR tracks.
However, of these bridges only the 51st Avenue bridge in Long Island City has entered a final design stage, said a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC).
“The existing bridge there will be demolished. The new one will be realigned over the tracks and will have brand new ramps,” said Craig Chin of DDC. Chin confirmed that after final design approval has been received by the New York City Design Commission bidding will start for the project in spring 2010, with a possible completion by winter 2010.
At first glance the 51st Avenue bridge appears not to be in such bad shape. However, a DOT spokesperson said that in an internal rating system, that includes many structural elements that might not be visible to a pedestrian or are only visible from the topside, determined that this bridge at 51st Street was a replacement priority.
Progress on the other bridges, however, has been slow.
To be sure, though different communities want to have safer and Americans with Disability Act compliant bridges, some people want a bridge that takes into account the residents’ needs.
“We want a new bridge but we want DOT to make repairs to the existing bridge,” said Susan Seinfeld, district manager of Community Board 11 where the 216th Street Bridge is located. Seinfeld said that the first design proposal made the wheelchair ramp too steep and obstructed the view of neighboring buildings.
DOT said that they are working with the community on the design of the 216th Street Bridge, while the other three bridges are being reviewed for inclusion in future capital budgets. DOT had hoped to receive federal stimulus funding through a Transportation Improvement Plan, but the LIRR pedestrian bridges did not receive any funds.
