Authorizing Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities and Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold joint hearings on the state of disrepair and deterioration of Amtrak bridges in the City of Philadelphia, the degree to which such neglect has negatively impacted the safety and economic development of the neighborhoods in which they are located and the disparity between repairs to bridges in the City versus bridges in the surrounding suburbs.

WHEREAS, 143 of the 302 Amtrak bridges in Philadelphia and the surrounding four suburban counties have some elements rated “poor” or worse, according to Amtrak's bridge-inspection reports. Of these 143 bridges, almost half are located within the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The structural defects include deteriorated metal plates, decaying stone walls, eroded support piers, badly worn girder elements and missing rivets; and

WHEREAS, Some of these bridges, such as the one over 52nd Street in West Philadelphia have seen this deterioration lead to neglect of property maintenance owned by Amtrak which in turn has created blighted and unsafe conditions such as crumbling retaining walls, litter and short dumping, rainwater run-off hazards and falling bridge components. Moreover, the lack of adequate lighting under the bridge has created a foreboding and dangerous atmosphere; and

WHEREAS, While many of these bridges have been put on a priority list for repairs or replacement, no federal stimulus dollars have been directed to these projects; and

WHEREAS, The presence of well maintained, safe bridges and operating train stations has a positive economic impact on the neighborhoods in which they are located as well as for the City as a whole by creating attractive, financially viable business districts or tourist destinations; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities and Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold joint hearings on the state of disrepair and deterioration of Amtrak bridges in the City of Philadelphia, the degree to which such neglect has negatively impacted the safety and economic development of the neighborhoods in which they are located and the disparity between repairs to bridges in the City versus bridges in the surrounding suburbs.

End