Amtrak seeks to close troublesome Newark lift bridge
Amtrak is seeking to permanently close an 85-year-old New Jersey lift bridge adjacent to Newark Penn Station that sometimes fails to close properly, delaying its trains as well as those of NJ Transit and PATH. NJ.com reports the railroad has applied to the U.S Coast Guard to permanently close the six-track, twin-span bridge built in 1935, citing the limited number of requests to open the bridge over the past five years. Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz told the news site that, while the bridge is rarely opened for marine traffic, malfunctions during required tests have caused more than 37 hours of Amtrak delays during that five-year period. The Coast Guard indicated it will take up to 6 months to determine whether to grant the permit.
UP line remains closed, California Zephyr interrupted by Glenwood Canyon fire
Union Pacific’s former Denver & Rio Grande Western route through the Rockies remains closed by a wildfire near Glenwood Springs, Colo., leading to continued disruption of Amtrak’s California Zephyr. Saturday and Sunday’s departures from Chicago and Emeryville, Calif., were cancelled between Denver and Salt Lake City, according to Amtrak Twitter posts; earlier trains had detoured via Wyoming between those two cities. As of Sunday, some 625 firefighters were at work on the fire, which has burned more than 25,600 acres and was reported as 0% contained, the Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports. Along with the rail line, Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon remains closed.
MTA schedules special board meeting on funding crisis
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority will hold a special board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to discuss MTA finances in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. MTA CEO Patrick J. Foye has called the meeting in light of the federal government’s failure to act on the MTA’s request for $12 billion in pandemic funding. No voting matters are planned. The online meeting will begin at 10 a.m. The MTA will collect public comments via video and phone on Monday, Aug. 24, with those wishing to comment having the opportunity to register online at this page of the MTA website between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Registrants will receive an email line allowing them to make comments beginning at noon.
