Daily News Briefs, December 13, 2023

Lawsuit Alleges NY Thruway Unlawfully Encroaches On Cayuga Nation Reservation

The Citizen reports, in a federal lawsuit filed Monday, the Cayuga Nation alleges that a nearly two-mile stretch of the New York State Thruway (I-90) violates the 1794 treaty that established the Cayuga reservation. “The lawsuit also notes that the state did not receive approval from the [US] Department of the Interior to extend the Thruway through Cayuga land — a violation of the Right-of-Way Act, a 1948 federal law.” As compensation, the Cayugas are seeking the payment of toll revenue that could be reasonably attributed to the relevant portion of the roadway. Defendants in the suit are Governor Kathy Hochul (D), the state transportation commissioner, the Thruway Authority and other state officials. The article notes that this lawsuit echoes legal action taken by the Seneca Nation regarding the Thruway’s footprint on Seneca land. In January, a federal court denied the state’s motion to dismiss that case.

Finger Lakes Daily News also reports on the lawsuit, noting that the 1948 Right-of-Way act was enacted by Congress to protect Indian lands from unlawful incursions.

The lawsuit is docketed as Cayuga Nation v. Hochul, et al., No. 1:23-cv-01283 (W.D.N.Y., December 11, 2023)

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Providence Bridge Emergency Closure Will Compound RITBA Bridge Traffic Problems

Rhode Island DOT on Monday evening announced the emergency closure of all westbound lanes on the Washington Bridge, which carries I-195 over the Seekonk River between East Providence and Providence. The closure is attributed to “the finding of a critical failure of some bridge components.” The Washington Bridge, built in 1968, is undergoing a $78 million rehabilitation. Normally, about 96,000 vehicles cross it daily. RIDOT predicts the westbound closure will last “three months or more,” and eastbound lanes also will be reduced. The announcement specifies three alternate routes, depending on motorists’ points of origin.

As Newport Buzz reports, the closure will have a ripple effect on other bridges in the small coastal state, including those operated by Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA), as drivers seek detour routes. In Newport, the uptick in traffic will further compound congestion from the ongoing Pell Bridge Ramps Project and its months-long lane closures. “City officials have been in contact with the State Department of Transportation, RI Emergency Management Agency, and [RITBA] to address the backups.” The article advises motorists to allow as much as “an extra hour or two” for rush-hour commutes.

WPRI reports extensively on the Washington Bridge’s emergency closure and the ensuing congestion. RIDOT Director Peter Alviti “said the bridge was last inspected without issue in July, but on Friday a worker noticed serious structural problems.” Lawmakers are demanding a robust response to hasten repairs, mitigate impacts and find accountability. “Some are calling on [the governor] to declare a state of emergency. . . .” The extensive article details the sudden closure’s wide-ranging impacts, from concerns about emergency response to schools switching to remote learning.

WJAR provides details and further coverage of the structural deficiency, including a photo of where “a 2-foot long steel pin that holds a beam in place” was found “snapped at the top.” At a news conference yesterday, Altivi said RIDOT’s processes “caught this at a point in time before a catastrophic event happened. What you’re seeing here is the system working.”

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These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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