Saturday rail news in brief:
— Design details for a proposal to replace a century-old Northeast Corridor bridge over the Connecticut River have been presented to harbor commissions in Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, Conn. The Connecticut Examiner reports Amtrak’s proposal for the $400 million project would replace a bascule bridge built in 1907 with a new bascule bridge 52 feet south of the existing structure. The Harbor Management Commissions in both towns were asked to determine whether the proposed project was consistent with their harbor management plans. Old Saybrook’s commission agreed with the proposal, with recommendations that two planned periods of river closure occur outside of boating season, and that Amtrak consider reuse of the current roadbad as a public access point. Old Lyme’s commission delayed approval, saying the plan was missing too many details.
— The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System board has approved a $346 million budget for 2021 including the plan for restoration of service from the current cutbacks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget, approved at the same meeting that included Sharon Cooney’s selection as the agency’s new CEO [see “San Diego transit agency names first female CEO,” News Wire Digest, May 15, 2020], includes plans to return to near full service levels in early summer and all-day service with 7-minute headways on the light rail Blue Line by June 15.
— New Mexico Rail Runner service will remain suspended until at least May 31 in accordance with the state’s stay-at-home orders in response to the COVID-19 virus. On its website, the Rio Metro Regional Transit District says it is working with the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to develop protocols to resume Rail Runner services. District director Terry Doyle, Director of Rio Metro Regional Transit District, the agency which oversees the Rail Runner, says the agency must determine “how best to support social distancing, stringent sanitation, and other COVID-Safe Practices aboard the train. We also need to give transit service providers that connect with the train time to adjust their schedules to connect with Rail Runner service.” Rail Runner service has been suspended since March 16.
