Katko demands federal report on collapsed bridge in Syracuse, NY

U.S. Rep John Katko (R-NY) wants the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to explain government maintenance of a downtown Syracuse, N.Y., railroad bridge that on July 5 partially fell down onto a public street below.

“We are extremely lucky that yesterday’s railroad bridge collapse did not injure any pedestrians or drivers traveling through this heavily trafficked section of downtown Syracuse,” Rep. Katko said in a July 6 statement, referring to the city within New York Congressional District 24, which he represents.
“There’s no question that we must invest in our region’s aging infrastructure, and yesterday’s collapse makes clear that we must do more to keep travelers and pedestrians safe,” he said.

The congressman also noted that his office staff immediately began working with the FRA to assist in determining the cause and damage from the partial collapse of the bridge.

“A number of questions have arisen about the overall maintenance and care of this structure, and similarly aged bridges and railways throughout NY-24,” said Rep. Katko, who has called on the FRA to address these concerns in a July 6 letter sent to FRA Administrator Ronald Batory.

The congressman wrote that while no one was injured when a massive slab of concrete fell off the side of the railroad bridge onto the busy commercial street below, “the consequences could have been disastrous.”

“I am concerned by the lack of maintenance and inspection of this bridge,” Rep. Katko wrote. “As such, I have follow up questions as to the role the FRA plays in examining structurally deficient bridges and what can be done to prevent disasters like this from occurring in the future.”

Specifically, Rep. Katko seeks a timely response from Batory on several questions, including when the bridge, which is located along South Clinton Street at West Onondaga Street and Gifford Street in Syracuse, was last inspected.

More generally, Rep. Katko asked Batory to also answer how bridges under FRA jurisdiction are randomly chosen for inspection; how many inspectors the FRA has on staff; what actions the FRA takes when an inspector determines a bridge to be structurally deficient; and if any constraints currently prevent the FRA from ensuring that the most deficient bridges are inspected.

“Disasters like this are a staunch reminder that our roads and bridges need improvement,” wrote Rep. Katko. “Even during tight financial constraints, I hope we can work together to prioritize infrastructure spending and mitigate future disasters.”