State transportation officials announced plans Thursday for a long-awaited bridge over Halethorpe?s MARC tracks, hoping to end commuters? perilous attempts to scurry across the tracks to get to the other side.
Deputy state transportation secretary Jim Ports said the administration has completed negotiations with Amtrak, which also uses the railroad and, according to him, thwarted the project?s progress for several years.
Halethorpe residents who now trudge across the Francis Street Bridge to the other side of the tracks to reach their cars rejoiced Thursday at the news.
“A lot are kids, but some people, instead of going up the steps and down they steps, they try to make a quick crossing,” said Joe Kinsey, former president of the Halethorpe Improvement Association. “It?s very dangerous.”
The state allocated $12 million to replace the station?s low-level platforms with higher platforms to provide direct access to trains, and two elevator towers with a short overpass to comply with federal disability requirements, Ports said. The parking lot, which was recently expanded by more than 400 spaces, will be split between the new platform and a canopy will provide shelter from the elements.
Ports said the improvements should reduce the length of trains? stops at the stations. He said the project stalled when Amtrak officials refused to agree to the new designs.
“Quite frankly, all negotiations with Amtrak are very difficult,” Ports said. “It took direct involvement from myself and Secretary Flanagan to get this thing moving.”
Construction is expected to begin within 18 months and take two years to complete, Ports said.
But after waiting so long already, community residents said the rest will be easy.
“The whole community is behind this project and so are the local elected officials,” Kinsey said. “We just want to see it become a reality.”
