U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) and Amtrak’s revisions to the scope of a Passaic River bridge, saving taxpayers nearly $140 million.
Duffy said the rehabilitation of the Dock Bridge in New Jersey will now focus on safety and will eliminate requirements he said were unnecessary.
“Americans want their trains on time and safe. It’s that simple,” Duffy said. “Refocusing this project on these two priorities will fast-track a vital repair to our country’s outdated infrastructure and save millions in the process.”
The revised scope of the rehabilitation project will remove unnecessary aesthetic costs like enhanced lighting, Duffy said, and defer some rehab work where structural elements still have a useful life. Officials said work to strengthen and reinforce the bridge’s steel component will extend the bridge’s function performance. And by reducing the scope of the project, Amtrak will save money. The new project is estimated to cost $235 million and be complete in two fewer years.
“Thanks to Secretary Duffy and the FRA, we will finish the Dock Bridge Rehabilitation Project plan faster and more efficiently, while also saving taxpayer money,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said. “This new plan will help us quickly increase the bridge’s reliability and safety, while also maximizing the useful life of this critical piece of infrastructure. It’s a big win for U.S. transportation, and a good example of how creative thinking and value engineering can make a project plan even better.”