Appendix B-8

Public Involvement Plan
Transportation

Project Report

Public Involvement Plan

October 2020

Livingston Avenue Bridge 

Project Identification Number (PIN): 1935.49 

Bridge Identification Number (BIN): 7092890 

City of Albany, Albany County 

and 

City of Rensselaer, Rensselaer County

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Railroad Administration
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge i

Table of Contents

Overview...............................................................................................................1

1. Project Overview and Location.............................................................1

2. Purpose of this Public Involvement Plan ..............................................3

Context Identification ............................................................................................4

1. Stakeholders.........................................................................................5

2. Potential Concerns ...............................................................................7

Public Involvement Objectives ..............................................................................9

1. Anticipated Level of Public Involvement ...............................................9

2. Communication Methods, Public Education and Outreach...................9

3. Environmental Justice ........................................................................11

4. Limited English Proficiency Individuals...............................................11

5. Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance .......................................12

Action Steps........................................................................................................13

1. Responsibilities...................................................................................13

2. Purpose and Expected Outcome........................................................13

3. Outreach to Date ................................................................................13

4. Schedule ............................................................................................14

Implement, Monitor and Update PI Plan .............................................................15

1. Implementation and Monitoring ..........................................................15

2. Documentation ...................................................................................15

3. Public Involvement Plan Updates.......................................................15
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 1

Overview

1. Project Overview and Location

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is proposing to 

replace the Livingston Avenue Bridge (the Project), which spans the Hudson 

River between the Cities of Albany and Rensselaer, providing a critical rail link on 

New York State’s Empire Corridor. The bridge, which CSX Transportation Inc. 

(CSX) owns and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 

maintains and operates, is nearing the end of its serviceable life. Amtrak uses the 

bridge for intercity passenger trains traveling on the Empire Corridor route and 

CSX and Canadian Pacific (CP) use the bridge for freight rail service. NYSDOT 

has been awarded a Federal grant to conduct preliminary engineering and 

environmental studies for the Project from the U.S. Department of Transportation 

(USDOT), through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The Livingston Avenue Bridge is a rail bridge crossing the Hudson River between 

the City of Rensselaer in Rensselaer County, New York and the City of Albany in 

Albany County, New York. The bridge is located at Milepost QC 143.1 on the 

CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) Hudson Subdivision and forms part of the 

Empire Corridor, which is the principal passenger and freight route in New York 

State. The 463-mile Empire Corridor traverses 24 counties from New York City to 

Niagara Falls and provides for the rail transport of both freight and passengers 

throughout New York State. The bridge is used by all Amtrak trains serving areas 

north or west of Albany, including Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express route to Rutland, 

Vermont, Amtrak’s Adirondack route to Montreal, and service to Niagara Falls, 

Chicago, and Toronto. Approximately 12 Amtrak trains cross the bridge each 

day. CSXT and Canadian Pacific Railway also operate an average of six freight 

trains across the bridge each day.

High-speed intercity passenger rail (HSIPR) service along the Empire Corridor is 

critical to New York State’s economic future and environmental sustainability. To 

improve intercity passenger rail service while strengthening the freight rail 

system, FRA and NYSDOT are jointly preparing a Tier 1 Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) for HSIPR Service Development on the Empire Corridor. A Tier 

1 Draft EIS was published in January 2014 that evaluates alternatives to 

introduce higher passenger train speeds on the Empire Corridor and improve 

reliability, travel times, service frequency, and passenger amenities. The 

Livingston Avenue Bridge is a restrictive bottleneck along the Empire Corridor 

that impedes future HSIPR plans. The current restrictions on bridge operations 

compromise the short- and long-term utility and vitality of New York’s passenger 

and freight rail service via the Empire Corridor. Improving the existing crossing is 

an essential component of developing a successful HSIPR corridor in New York 

State and providing ample connection to New York City. 
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 2

The purpose of the Project is to improve reliability and reduce passenger and 

freight train delays along this segment of the Empire Corridor; achieve (at a 

minimum) a long-term state-of-good-repair for the bridge; eliminate existing 

bridge and track deficiencies; and maintain or improve navigation near the 

bridge. This will ensure that the Livingston Avenue Bridge meets modern 

passenger and freight rail capacity and load (weight) standards, maintains 

acceptable levels of safety, and supports the long-term utility and vitality of the 

Empire Corridor.

The superstructure of the existing bridge was erected in 1901-1903 on a 

substructure that dates to the 1860s. Recent inspections have confirmed that the 

bridge has significant deterioration. The superstructure and substructure are in 

fair to poor condition, including some components with substantial corrosion and 

several piers that are in critical condition, including piers that have substantial 

undermining of the timber foundations that support the stone piers. The bridge 

was not designed for and does not meet modern seismic codes. The mechanical 

portions of the swing span are significantly worn and require near constant 

maintenance to remain operable. The swing span frequently malfunctions, 

resulting in delays to passenger trains, freight trains, and boat traffic using the 

Hudson River. 

In addition, the bridge does not meet current design standards related to load, 

speed, and vertical clearance, and therefore passenger and freight trains 

operating over the bridge must comply with restrictions related to weight and 

speed. The bridge also has non-standard vertical and horizontal clearances, 

which limit the types of carriages and freight that can traverse the span. In 

addition to the obsolete design of the bridge, its current deteriorated state further 

limits train weight and speed on the crossing. As a result, the two-track bridge 

can be used only by one train at a time and the maximum authorized speed is 15 

miles per hour (mph).

The existing Livingston Avenue Bridge has been identified as a contributing 

factor to delays in the movement of freight and passengers throughout New York 

State. The Project is essential to implementing future rail plans and improving 

state-wide transport.

The stated goals of the Project are to:

Goal 1 – Improve passenger rail operations, service reliability, and operational 

flexibility.

Goal 2 – Improve the load capacity of the corridor and remove existing structural 

operational limitations.

Goal 3 – Minimize conflicts with navigational traffic.
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 3

2. Purpose of this Public Involvement Plan

The purpose of this Public Involvement Plan is to develop and implement a 

program which engages the public and resource agencies to participate in the 

development of the Project.

The goals of public involvement for this Project are to:

 Provide information about the Project, including its purpose and need, 

alternatives considered, and potential environmental effects, to the public, 

interested parties and stakeholders, and resource agencies.

 Hear and respond to public concerns about the Project.

This Public Involvement Plan will be carried out in compliance with Federal and 

state policies.
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 4

Context Identification

The Livingston Avenue Bridge has been a prominent feature of the Albany 

landscape since 1867. It is a critical crossing for passenger rail and, to a lesser 

extent, freight rail, connecting the cities of Rensselaer and Albany. NYSDOT has 

been awarded a Federal grant for the Livingston Avenue Bridge Project for 

preliminary engineering and environmental analysis from FRA. The proposed 

work will require Federal regulatory approvals for construction activities within 

and over a navigable waterway of the United States from the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Livingston Avenue Bridge spans a navigable portion of the Hudson River 

and has a vertical clearance above the water that varies from 25 to 30 feet, 

depending on the tide. The structure is a swing span movable bridge. In the past 

15 years, the bridge has opened as many as 474 times a year (in the peak year 

of 2005). In recent years, the bridge opened for ships an average of 300 times a 

year, generally during the boating season between April and November.

In Rensselaer, the bridge touches down close to an approximately 45-acre 

Amtrak engine rail maintenance yard and north of the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak 

station. Much of the shoreline near the bridge in Rensselaer is heavily wooded; 

the area north of the bridge is planned for redevelopment as part of the Kiliaen’s 

Landing project. The City of Rensselaer intends to extend the Rensselaer 

Riverwalk Trail from its existing 0.3-mile segment near the Dunn Memorial Bridge 

farther north along the eastern shore of the Hudson River, passing beneath the 

Livingston Avenue Bridge. 

In Albany, the bridge touches down near Corning Riverfront Park, which is owned 

and operated by the City of Albany. This is an active recreational area with a 

bicycle path, community rowing facilities and a boat launch in the immediate 

vicinity of the bridge. The bicycle path, which is part of the regional MohawkHudson Bike-Hike Trail, and an off ramp of I-787, which provides vehicular 

access to the park, pass underneath the Livingston Avenue Bridge. In addition, 

NYSDOT is currently undertaking the Albany Skyway project in this area, which 

will convert the U.S. Route 9 ramp that extends from Quay Street to Broadway 

into a pedestrian promenade closed to traffic. Several parking lots owned by the 

State of New York are also beneath and near the bridge.

The bridge is a historic structure that is eligible for listing on the National Register 

of Historic Places (NR-eligible). FRA and NYSDOT, in consultation with the New 

York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), have determined that the Project 

would result in an adverse effect on the Livingston Avenue Bridge, which would 

be demolished as part of the Project.

On the west side of the river west of the bridge abutment, the two-track west 

approach is on a berm that passes beneath a viaduct carrying eight lanes of 
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 5

Interstate 787 (I-787) and then passes across a series of five additional bridges 

over Water Street, Centre Street-Erie Boulevard, a CP freight line (and unbuilt 

location of Montgomery Street), Colonie Street and Broadway, and North Pearl 

Street. This stretch of track, including the bridges and the earthen berm between 

them, is NR-eligible and was historically referred to as the Albany Railroad 

Viaduct.

A 2008 study prepared by the Capital District Transportation Committee and 

NYSDOT, the Hudson River Crossing Study, recommended implementation of a 

bicycle/pedestrian crossing as part of future work on the Livingston Avenue 

Bridge. A long abandoned and closed seven-foot wide timber deck maintenance 

walkway exists on the south side of the bridge. The Hudson River Crossing 

Study identified the bridge as a desired trail link between Albany and Rensselaer, 

with potential for regional commuter use as well as recreational use. The 

Livingston Avenue Bridge was also identified as a potential bike route in the 2009 

City of Albany Bicycle Master Plan, Albany 2030 Plan, and the July 2011 Final 

Draft City of Rensselaer Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The Capital 

District Transportation Committee included this bridge in its 2010-2015 TIP 

(Transportation Improvement Program) with a notation that “this project includes 

pedestrian accommodations.”

1. Stakeholders

The following is a list of potential stakeholders.

Public

Albany Port District Commission

Albany Rowing Center

Albany Irish Rowing Club

Albany Yacht Club

Arbor Hill Concerned Citizens

Arbor Hill Neighborhood Association

Bridge Line Historical Society

C. Springer Welding Works and Marina

Capital District Transportation Committee

Captain JP Cruise Line

Coeymans Marine Towing

Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations

Dutch Apple Cruises

Historic Albany Foundation

Hudson River Pilots

Hudson River Riverkeeper

Livingston Avenue Bridge Coalition

National Railway Historical Society Mohawk and Hudson Chapter

New York Central Historical Society

North Albany Shaker Neighborhood Association

North End Neighborhood Association
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 6

NYS Marine Transportation

Partners for Albany Stories

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Shaker Rowing Association

Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center

University of Albany Boat House

Other local marine users

Local residents in Albany and Rensselaer who live within 1,000 feet of the project 

site

Owners of affected properties

Federal Agencies

Federal Railroad Administration*

United States Coast Guard**

United States Fish & Wildlife Service

United States Army Corps of Engineers**

United States Environmental Protection Agency

National Marine Fisheries Service

* Lead Federal Agency

** Cooperating Agencies. FRA will invite potential cooperating Federal agencies. 

State Agencies

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Office of General Services (Owner of riverbed and parking lots under and 

near the bridge in Albany)

NYS Department of State (NYSDOS)

NYSDOS Division of Coastal Resources

NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Hudson River Valley Greenway

Municipal and County Government

Albany Department of Planning and Development

Albany Department of Recreation

Albany Department of General Services (includes engineering division, parks, 

and streets)

Albany Fire Department

Albany Police Department

Rensselaer Planning Department

Rensselaer Historian

Rensselaer Fire Department

Rensselaer Police Department

City of Troy

County of Albany

County of Rensselaer 

Town of North Greenbush
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 7

Local Elected Officials

Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator for New York

Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator for New York

Paul Tonko, U.S. Representative, District 20, New York

Daphne V. Jordan, New York State Senator, District 43

Neil D. Breslin, New York State Senator, District 44

John McDonald III, New York State Assembly Member, 108th District

Mayor Kathy Sheehan, City of Albany

Mayor Michael Stammel, City of Rensselaer

Joyce Love, City of Albany Common Council, Ward 3 representative

Kelly Kimbrough, City of Albany Common Council, Ward 4 representative

Jahmel Robinson, City of Albany Common Council, Ward 5 representative

Dave Gardner, City of Rensselaer Common Council, Second Ward Alderperson

Bryan Leahey, City of Rensselaer Common Council, Third Ward Alderperson

Rail

CSXT

Amtrak

Canadian Pacific 

Transportation Agencies/ Planning Organizations

Capital District Regional Planning Commission

Capital District Transportation Authority

Capital District Transportation Committee

Business and Non-Governmental Organizations

Albany Bicycle Coalition

Center for Economic Growth

Chamber of Commerce (Albany)

Chamber of Commerce (Rensselaer County)

Empire State Passengers Association

North Albany Industrial Area 

NYS Bicycle Coalition

Parks & Trails New York

Scenic Hudson

Troy Bike Rescue

2. Potential Concerns

Based on the bridge’s setting and the issues identified at the beginning of this 

section, the following topics may be concerns during public involvement and 

agency review:

 Provision of bicycle and pedestrian access on the Livingston Avenue Bridge

 Effects to historic resources, including the Livingston Avenue Bridge and the 

Albany Railroad Viaduct
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 8

 Boating, especially concerning boaters’ access on the river during bridge 

construction

 Visual impacts, given the bridge’s prominence on the Hudson River

 Potential impacts during construction of the Project
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 9

Public Involvement Objectives

1. Anticipated Level of Public Involvement

This Project is expected to have a high level of public interest. There is high 

public interest in improving passenger rail, especially west of Albany in New York 

State. The Livingston Avenue Bridge is a critical link in both maintaining and 

improving passenger rail service west of Albany. The high attendance at previous

public meetings for the Empire Corridor Project Tier 1 EIS (approximately 400 

attendees at scoping meetings) indicates a high level of interest in high speed rail 

service. The Livingston Avenue Bridge has been cited as a vital link for a regional 

bicycle trail system. The bridge also touches down near the Corning Riverfront 

Park in Albany, an active recreational area with organized boating programs as 

well as a multi-use pathway that passes under the bridge. In fall 2011 a 

bicycle/pedestrian access advocacy group, the Livingston Avenue Bridge 

Coalition, was organized. The group has worked to build political and public 

support for multimodal access on the bridge. Resolutions supporting bike and 

pedestrian access have been supported by the City of Albany, City of 

Rensselaer, Rensselaer County, Hudson River Valley Greenway, Friends of the 

Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail and the New York League of Conservation 

Voters.

2. Communication Methods, Public Education and Outreach

This Public Involvement Plan has several components that will be used to inform 

the public about Project developments and to ensure that all stakeholders are 

given an opportunity to participate in the Project. These components will be 

tailored as appropriate so that the outreach process can remain flexible in 

developing project needs and opportunities.

 At least one public informational meeting will be held to both give 

and receive information. The format of this meeting will be an informal 

open house designed to gather community viewpoints. This open 

house format will feature information boards, displays and a slide 

presentation. The format will allow the public ample opportunity to 

speak directly, one-on-one, to members of the project team. Members 

of the team will be on hand to explain the displays and answer 

questions and stakeholders will be encouraged to provide input for 

consideration as the Project continues. There may also be 

opportunities for interactive participation (such as inviting attendees to 

put comments on maps.)

Before the public informational meeting, the Project team will review 

the material to be presented and the objectives of the meeting with 

FRA.
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 10

 Informational materials will be developed to meet communication 

objectives. Listed below are the materials anticipated to be used in the 

Livingston Avenue Bridge Project.

1. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) are an effective tool to 

address specific questions the public has raised. Welldeveloped FAQs written in an easy-to-read style indicate the 

study team has heard public concerns and has grasped 

community issues. FAQs can cover a broad spectrum of topics 

in one document. FAQs will be developed for the Project 

website.

2. Fact Sheets and Handouts are effective at conveying Project 

details, especially if graphics are used to visually illustrate 

information. It is expected fact sheets and handouts will be 

prepared for the public meetings.

3. Slide presentation will be developed for the public 

information meeting as a communication tool for the meeting 

and potentially the project website.

 Other meetings, briefings, and day-to-day contacts. The team will 

hold meetings with groups of stakeholders as appropriate. Meetings 

may be with: 

o Local community residents, associations, and interests, 

including individuals and commuters;

o Federal, state, regional, and local agencies; 

o Regulatory agencies;

o County and regional planning, transportation, and other 

departments;

o Cooperating and participating agencies;

o Consulting parties (in accordance with Section 106 of the 

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966);

o Businesses and proposed developers; 

o Media briefings (in coordination with NYSDOT’s Office of 

Communications, Office of Major Projects and Rail Projects 

Group). 

 A Project website has been developed by NYSDOT in collaboration 

with the bridge design consultant so that the public can easily learn 

about the Project and provide comment. This site has an overview of 

the Project, summaries of meetings and presentations, project reports 

and developments and information on the status of the project. Visitors 

can add themselves to the contact list on the website and submit 

comments via e-mail to the NYSDOT Project Manager. The website 

will be updated regularly. The website is located at the following 

address: https://www.dot.ny.gov/livingstonavebridge
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 11

 A Project contact list has been developed and will be continually 

updated. This list allows the Project team to provide notification of 

upcoming meetings and provide Project updates to stakeholders and 

interested members of the public. Communication will be done as 

much as possible by email for cost effectiveness and efficiency. When 

email addresses are not available, information will be sent via US 

Postal Service.

 A record of public comments will be kept to ensure meaningful 

consideration of public knowledge and opinion. All emails and 

comments, submitted either through the website or in writing, will be 

responded to directly by the NYSDOT Project Manager. A report of all 

comments received will be distributed to and reviewed by the Project 

team on a monthly basis. This report will summarize key points of 

information and will categorize comments by topic area. Individual 

comments that require a more timely review and response will be 

distributed as received. Additionally, public comment on the 

Environmental Assessment will be logged. Responses to the 

comments will be made in the final EA.

3. Environmental Justice 

A 1994 Presidential Executive Order directed every Federal agency to make 

environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing the effects 

of all programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income 

populations. Environmental justice requires special outreach where there is 

potential for disproportionate impact on minority and/or low income communities. 

The goal is to involve the potentially affected public in developing transportation 

projects that fit harmoniously within their communities without sacrificing safety or 

mobility. Areas near the Livingston Avenue Bridge in both Albany and 

Rensselaer have environmental justice populations, based on U.S. Census data. 

NYSDOT will make efforts to reach these residents through targeted outreach.

4. Limited English Proficiency Individuals

Federal Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with 

Limited English Proficiency, dated August 11, 2000, requires implementation of 

reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services and activities to 

individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have 

limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English. These individuals are 

considered to have limited English proficiency (LEP). Public outreach for the 

Project will be consistent with Executive Order 13166. To provide accessibility for 

LEP populations, NYSDOT will offer translation services for public meetings upon 

request by LEP populations where feasible.1

 

1 Based on U.S. Census data, in neighborhoods in the vicinity of the Project site, fewer than 5 percent of residents are 

LEP individuals.
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 12

5. Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on 

disability and requires that public activities be made accessible to those with 

disabilities. All public meetings will be accessible as required by the Americans 

with Disabilities Act. All electronic communications will comply with Section 508 

of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which “require[s] Federal 

agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to 

people with disabilities.” All notices announcing public meetings will provide 

instructions for requesting other special accommodations (e.g., translations or 

captioning).
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 13

Action Steps

The Project team will continue to share knowledge with stakeholders through the 

tools described earlier and to reassess the strategies needed to ensure an 

effective public involvement process.

1. Responsibilities 

A public outreach team will be formed to provide timely and consistent 

information to the public. This team is also charged with responsibility for 

listening to public concerns. 

For a public involvement process to be successful, public input and concerns 

must be shared with all Project team members so that feedback and input are 

appropriately integrated into the engineering and environmental elements of the 

Project. All team members, including the consultant team, play an integral role in 

the public outreach effort and will be kept abreast of outreach developments to 

ensure that public concerns are considered and addressed. Under the direction 

of the NYSDOT Public Information Officer, the consultant team will assist the 

Department with the preparation of presentations for public meetings, 

development of outreach tools, formulation of strategies, and coordination tasks 

with Project stakeholders. FRA’s involvement is crucial to the development of all 

public involvement processes and materials.

All requests from elected officials and media regarding the Project will be 

directed to the NYSDOT Office of Communications, and the Consultant Team will 

function in a support role to NYSDOT.

2. Purpose and Expected Outcome

All outreach activities, such as meetings and open houses, will have a stated 

purpose and goal, developed in coordination with FRA. These are discussed at 

internal Project team meetings with the goal of making each activity as effective 

as possible. Activities are described in the Public Involvement Objectives section.

3. Outreach to Date

Outreach to several interested groups has already taken place:

 On September 30, 2010 a discussion of the Project took place at the

offices of the Capital District Transportation Committee (CDTC) that 

included representatives of the CDTC, Albany County, the City of 

Rensselaer, the New York Bicycling Coalition, the Capital District 

Transportation Authority, the City of Albany Engineering and select 

members of the outreach team. All present were encouraged to provide 

input into the process.

 On June 22, 2011 representatives of the City of Rensselaer and the City 

of Albany planning departments met with members of the design team to 
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 14

receive a briefing on the status of the Livingston Avenue Bridge Project 

and to solicit input. 

 On July 6, 2011 the NYSDOT, Director, Office of Major Projects and the 

NYSDOT, Director, Rail Projects Group briefed the CDTC Planning 

Committee of the status of projects associated with the High Speed 

Intercity Passenger Rail Service Development on the Empire Corridor 

including the Livingston Avenue Bridge Project. 

 On August 5, 2015, a coordination meeting was held with the State 

Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) at the Peebles Island offices of the 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation 

(OPRHP). The NYSDOT Cultural Resources Coordinator and Project 

Manager and consultant managers attended. Coordination topics included 

rehabilitation, reuse, and relocation of the existing bridge as well as 

replacement alternatives.

 A Threat and Vulnerability Assessment (TVA) and Preliminary Hazard 

Analysis (PHA) were conducted in coordination with local, state and 

Amtrak emergency services to solicit their input on the TVA/PHA process. 

The Final TVA/PHA documents were submitted to NYSDOT on May 4, 

2018.

 The consultant team, in conjunction with NYSDOT, prepared a Navigation 

Report that solicited input from the local users of the Hudson River in the 

vicinity of the Livingston Avenue Bridge Project. The purpose of this report 

was to ascertain the current uses and future needs for the LAB from the 

riverine stakeholders. The Final Navigation Report was submitted to 

NYSDOT on July 29, 2018.

Public outreach activities for the Livingston Avenue Bridge will continue as 

design progresses.

4. Schedule

Public involvement activities are in progress and will include a public information 

meeting when the Environmental Assessment is available for review and 

comment. The purpose of this meeting will be to inform the public about the 

Project and listen to concerns. A more detailed schedule for public involvement 

will be provided as Project details are defined.
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 15

Implement, Monitor and Update PI Plan

1. Implementation and Monitoring

The Public Involvement Plan will be in place and implemented throughout the 

planning, design and construction phases. While the Project may be subject to

schedule or scope changes, the Public Involvement Plan will remain focused on 

creating and maintaining two-way communication between the Project sponsors 

and the public, thereby obtaining meaningful communication with Project 

stakeholders. 

Although implementation is important, periodic evaluation and constant 

monitoring of the plan’s effectiveness are essential to reaching its objectives.

2. Documentation

A Public Involvement Record will be maintained throughout the Project that 

includes every public comment received, and corresponding responses by 

Project members. Project documentation will meet all state and Federal 

requirements.

This Project’s documentation and updates procedures include the following 

routine tasks:

 All Project correspondence – letters, emails, and telephone calls will be 

considered part of the Project record.

 Mail will be stamped with received dates and routed to the Project 

team as appropriate. 

 The original submittals will be scanned and then mailed to NYSDOT 

Project Manager Mark Jakubiak and a copy will be filed in 

chronological order in the Project Office. Scanned copies will be placed 

on the NYSDOT server.

 All incoming comments submitted to the Livingston Avenue Bridge 

website are considered Project correspondence. The NYSDOT Project 

Manager will respond to e-mails once a week in coordination with FRA 

as appropriate. Copies of the comments and the responses will be sent

to the Public Involvement Database Manager.

3. Public Involvement Plan Updates

Strategies for outreach will be developed, refined, and reassessed throughout 

the Project to ensure that the public involvement process is effective and 

provides stakeholders a voice during Project development. Individual plans 
October 2020 Public Involvement Plan - Livingston Avenue Bridge 16

targeting specific populations are anticipated, and the elements of the plan will 

undergo frequent evaluations with the goal of improving the process.