Ulster County Legislature approves replacement of Basin Road Bridge over rail corridor despite widespread public opposition

The Ulster County Legislature on Feb. 17 voted 19'3 to authorize the chair to execute agreements to replace the bridge over Basin Road on the Ulster & Delaware Railroad corridor, moving the project forward despite a large public outpouring urging removal or preservation instead of replacement.

During the meetingpublic-comment period, 33 speakers addressed resolutions on the agenda. Multiple residents—listed in the meeting record as Karl Beard, Dominick Mercurio, Amarla Brucker, Steven Schallenkamp, Betsy Blair, Steve Rice and others—spoke in support of Resolution No. 5, saying they favored replacement. Dozens of other residents—including Meg Carey, Larry Roth, Rich Hobart, Teagan Cruz, Aniya Irizarry, Harrison Baldof, Vinny Nigro, Alice Rojas, Steven Szymanski, Helen Chase, Russ Bonk, Alexandra Wodjak and Christina Gardner—spoke against the proposed replacement, urging either removal of the bridge or maintaining rail operations and raising concerns about trail use, environmental impacts and community access.

Resolution No. 5, described on the agenda as "Authorizing the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature to execute agreements in relation to the replacement of the bridge over Basin Road on the Ulster & Delaware Railroad corridor," was adopted by recorded vote: AYES 19, NOES 3 (Noes recorded as Legislators Kovacs, Lopez and Roberts), with Legislator Murray absent. The resolution gives the Chair authority to enter agreements necessary to advance the replacement project; the minutes do not provide detailed contract terms or a construction schedule.

Supporters who spoke at the meeting framed the replacement as necessary for safety and continued use of the corridor. Opponents raised alternate proposals, including removal of the bridge, preservation options, and concerns about long-term costs and impacts on recreation and neighboring properties. The transcript records the stances of speakers but does not report verbatim cross-examination or technical engineering details.

The Legislature's vote follows prior committee consideration and public submissions referenced in the meeting packet; the minutes note emails both supporting and opposing bridge removal and the Basin Road project. The next procedural step under the resolution is for the Chair to execute agreements as authorized; the minutes do not list specific contractors, funding sources or the timetable for procurement and construction.

The meeting record shows the bridge resolution was one of several non-consent items considered that night; the Legislature adopted many other contracts and budget amendments on the consent calendar. The public and local advocates will likely continue to press county officials for more detail about project scope, environmental review and timelines as the Chair moves to implement the authorized agreements.