by Kristina Gabalski
SPENCERPORT-OGDEN – The persistence of Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene and Senator Charles Schumer regarding the removal of the CSX railroad bridge over South Union Street appears to be paying off.
Mayor Lobene says two CSX officials from Jacksonville, Florida, were at the village hall meeting room Tuesday, December 18, to interview eight wrecking companies regarding bids and specs for removal of the deteriorating span. Two of the companies are from Rochester, the mayor says.
Bids must be in by January 18 and then CSX has five days to assign the job, Lobene explains. After that, the company awarded the job has 30 days to obtain necessary permits. Once all the paperwork is in place, the wrecking company will have 48 days to complete the removal project.
“So we are looking at the beginning of April,” Lobene says, for having the job complete.
Mayor Lobene says Senator Schumer, who recently visited the village to call on CSX to finally move forward with the removal project, was very helpful in getting the railroad to act.
“He not only came that day,” she says, “he forced the issue with these guys. He kept after them every couple of days. I’m so thrilled he came to Spencerport – and the follow-up work of his aide in Rochester was fantastic. I will never forget it.”
The mayor has also repeatedly been calling CSX for updates, she says.
An official from CSX told her that she and Senator Schumer were the “most relentless mayor and senator they have ever met,” Mayor Lobene says.
