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1. Ben says:

   February 17, 2016 at 9:08 am

   If people wanted a walkway over the gorge to remain, why wasn’t one just included on the new bridge? I think having both would look really weird there.

2. Chris says:

   February 17, 2016 at 10:07 pm

   Norfolk-Southern, due to legal and insurance issues, did not want a walk way on the new bridge.
   Even though there is a Bill in the Senate the Parks Department is on record saying it does not want the old bridge as a ped walkway. They have officially refused it for various reasons, one being funding; especially in the long term.
   There would have to be serious changes to the infrastructure of the park itself to allow for trails etc. accommodating the use of the old rail bridge for pedestrians. Not to mention changes to the bridge itself to allow for peds.

   I was on the team the progressed the EIS and Section 106 process. The Parks Department had 5 years to determine if they wanted it and they determined they did not. The public had over 4 years to weigh in on this issue through many public meetings and outreach. A little surprising this is now becoming an issue. The Bridge could have used the support 4 years ago!

   The bridge was also offered to a few historic bridge groups across the north east for assistance in funding and support. They declined.

   Personally I would have loved the bridge to be saved, but the reality of the costs both present and future prevented the Parks Dept and other entities from pursing keeping it.

3. Michael says:

   February 18, 2016 at 8:32 am

   umm…I believe this is PERFECT candidate for Rails to Trails

4. Chris Chiesa says:

   February 19, 2016 at 2:00 pm

   I am apparently the only person who has NEVER illegally walked on the old bridge — I’ve only ever seen it from below and in aerial photos — oh, and that one hot-air balloon ride — and I find myself with mixed feelings.

   First, the only thing that makes the presence of a railroad bridge tolerable at all, in that otherwise pristine place, is the fact that it *is* 150 years old and thus brings some rustic charm to the scene. A brand new bridge had better be designed very carefully indeed, if it is not to ruin the classic atmosphere of the Letchworth gorge. Anything the least bit “modern” will be absolutely the wrong thing. Ideally, I’d like to see the entire railroad rerouted to avoid the gorge-and-park entirely. But *that’s* not going to happen.

   The next worst thing would be to have *two* bridges, whether the old one is preserved as a walkway or “just for looks/sentiment.” That is the first step on the slippery slope toward proliferation of exploitation, which would be a real shame after it took a hundred years to recover from the first time, when the entire area was logged bare and all the trees had to be replanted. I don’t want to go to Letchworth twenty years from now and find the gorge filled with McDonalds, gas stations, and strip malls.

   So, in my opinion, the old bridge should be either refurbished by replacing each piece with an exact replica of modern materials and strength, or removed entirety and outright replaced by a new bridge that replicates its style as closely as possible.

   One important thing that should be officially recognized is that, whether an official pedestrian walkway is provided or not *people are going to walk on whatever bridge is there,* just as *they already do*. It’s human nature to want to see that view, and it’s the American spirit to defy rules and signs that say “you’re not allowed.” We are The People — as in “We The People” — and in our hearts that’s *our* bridge over *our* gorge, for looking at *our* view. So, whatever decision is made, it should acknowledge this reality and accomodate it as safely as possible. If Norfolk-Southern would commit to including a walkway in the new bridge, and just eating the insurance costs, on the grounds that “it’s the Right Thing To Do” — which it *is* — they might just get some goodwill and business mileage out of being heroes to the American people. “We hear you.” “This view’s for you.” Any ad agency worth its fees should be able to spin up a big PR win from such a choice.

5. Richard H. Jordan III says:

   March 1, 2016 at 11:02 am

   I contacted Senator Rich Funke and his office transferred me to Senator Gallivan’s office, the following is the response I received.

   Good Afternoon Mr. Jordan – As you are our constituent, Senator Funke’s office referred your email to us. Senator Gallivan is familiar with the concept of a pedestrian walkway with the new bridge being constructed at beautiful Letchworth State Park. As it has not yet come to a vote, he is doing what he does with all matters that he is responsible for and researching all sides of the issue. He will be made aware of your support of this walkway.

   Please feel free to contact me directly should you wish to discuss this further.

   Annie Chwiecko
   Livingston and Monroe Counties Community Representative

   Senator Patrick M. Gallivan
   59th Senate District
   Livingston County Government Center
   6 Court Street
   Geneseo, NY 14454
   ~and~
   900 Jefferson Road
   Rochester, NY 14623
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   (C) 585.746.2807

   So the vote has not been taken yet and there is still a good chance we can have a pedestrian walkway. Use the above contact to let your voice be heard.

6. E.E.Mort says:

   August 16, 2016 at 9:38 pm

   I think two bridges will be an eyesore in the end. The footers for the old bridge are solid – and there is already (hehe, or was) a steel grating catwalk that ran the span between the footers. What if that tear down the old bridge but have an official trail running across the footers of the bridge – it would mean amazing views for those that have never been down there. It would easily connect with the FLT on the east side to the more formal high falls trail on the west side. They would not have the large, aging iron structure to maintain that way. A river level trail seems far more attractive than a hill top level one…

7. Amtrakpax says:

   December 13, 2017 at 3:55 am

   I think after taking public money for the new bridge NS should transfer it to a non profit rail group. What were the taxes on the old and new bridges? Tax money of course has been spent for years on roads and airports. That’s why we don’t have passenger trains in the area.

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