Schumer: CSX Must Not Delay North Court Street Bridge Repairs Any Longer

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on rail company CSX to work with Madison County officials to come up with a feasible plan that will allow the County's planned reconstruction of the North Court Street Bridge to get underway. After New York State red-flagged the bridge as one in need of critical repair -- meaning it would be closed indefinitely if the necessary repairs are not made -- Madison County officials planned and budgeted for a repair project that would keep the bridge open for the foreseeable future.

CSX, however, which runs a rail line underneath the bridge, forced the County to halt planned construction due to the company's request that right-of-way controls be added to the reconstruction plans. CSX's right-of-way requests would increase the costs of this project by over 50%, something the County cannot afford. Schumer explained that it is critical for CSX to work with Madison County officials because any further delay to construction could force County officials to permanently close the bridge, which would detour 5,000 cars and trucks into the Village of Canastota each day.

"North Court Street Bridge is a vital link for the thousands of Madison County residents who travel over it each and every day, so repairing the bridge and keeping it operational is simply imperative," said Schumer. "Unfortunately, CSX officials are standing in the way of repairs by making unreasonable requests of Madison County -- to change their repair plans in a way that would force taxpayers to shoulder hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra costs. That's why CSX must work with County officials in good faith to devise a plan that will ensure the safe preservation of the bridge and the CSX lines underneath, without costing the County hundreds of thousands of additional dollars."

"Madison County has worked hard to appropriate $800,000 of funds to a project that must happen," said John Becker, Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors. "We've planned for it. We've saved for it and we've put together a plan that will pay for it. For CSX to demand we alter the project in the eleventh hour and bill the taxpayers for the $450,000 just isn't fair. Senator Schumer has always had our back, and so, we hope he can get this train moving again. He knows how important this project is for all of Madison County."

The bridge repair project is estimated to cost $800,000, which is exactly how much Madison County has set aside for the work. The project will bring the bridge into a state of good repair and help reduce congestion. However, just as Madison County prepares to begin construction, CSX, which runs a rail line underneath the bridge, has requested changes to the plans that would ensure the bridge does not interfere with CSX's right-of-way. CSX's requests would increase project costs by $450,000, and CSX has not offered to cover this additional expense.

CSX, one of the nation's largest transportation companies, can request changes to ensure other transportation routes and the public stay clear of CSX's railway's right-of-way. Although CSX acknowledges in its letter to the Madison County Highway Department that the current plan generally satisfies CSX's requirements, it asks the county to expand the width and clearance height of the bridge so that CSX can move forward on its plans to add two additional tracks and to construct a curved top portion to the bridge to prevent objects from being thrown at the railway. Schumer noted that these changes are clearly intended to support CSX's plans for expansion and do not serve to enhance public safety. According to CSX policies, the cost of these changes must be paid by the implementing party or government agency. Work on the bridge cannot begin until both the county and CSX establish a construction agreement.

Schumer said that CSX's last-minute requests are prohibitively expensive, and he urged the company to work with Madison County officials to agree on a plan that will permit the speedy reconstruction of the bridge while not costing the county additional money.

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