Editing Hell Gate Bridge (section)

=== 2000s to present ===
In the first decade of the 21st century, the bridge carried around 41 passenger trains per weekday, as well as less frequent freight-train service.<ref name="Greenstein p. 50" /> Debris still fell from the bridge's approach viaducts due to both vandalism and general neglect,<ref name="The New York Times 2001 c506">{{cite web |date=April 8, 2001 |title=Neighborhood Report: Astoria; A Bridge Meant for Trains, Not Bombardment |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/nyregion/neighborhood-report-astoria-a-bridge-meant-for-trains-not-bombardment.html |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |postscript=none |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226225900/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/nyregion/neighborhood-report-astoria-a-bridge-meant-for-trains-not-bombardment.html |url-status=live}}; {{Cite news |last=Woodberry |first=Warren Jr. |date=August 28, 2000 |title=Teen Vandals Hit Woodsid epelt Homes With Rocks From Rail Line |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|305581470}}}}</ref><ref name="Brownlow 2005 s480">{{cite web |last=Brownlow |first=Ron |date=October 13, 2005 |title=Falling Rocks Damage Cars Under Hell Gate In Astoria |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/western/falling-rocks-damage-cars-under-hell-gate-in-astoria/article_73884549-4072-5cc1-a3d3-18bb102b6653.html |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=Queens Chronicle |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226225832/https://www.qchron.com/editions/western/falling-rocks-damage-cars-under-hell-gate-in-astoria/article_73884549-4072-5cc1-a3d3-18bb102b6653.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and Vallone said in 2001 that the paint had started to peel off.<ref name="p305647268">{{cite news |last1=Bertrand |first1=Donald |last2=Blood |first2=Michael |date=March 22, 2001 |title=Claim Hell Gate Paint's Shot to, Well... |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|305647268}}}}</ref><ref name="Lippincott 2001 j893">{{cite web |last=Lippincott |first=E.E. |date=April 5, 2001 |title=Pols & Locals: Issues Continue To Plague Hell Gate Bridge |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/western/pols-locals-issues-continue-to-plague-hell-gate-bridge/article_ff0b7766-61f7-5456-b638-f4bbd2f7de7c.html |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Queens Chronicle |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308214837/https://www.qchron.com/editions/western/pols-locals-issues-continue-to-plague-hell-gate-bridge/article_ff0b7766-61f7-5456-b638-f4bbd2f7de7c.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Security on the bridge was increased following the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="Greenstein p. 51">{{harvnb|Greenstein|2004|ps=.|page=51}}</ref> In 2002, state government officials announced plans to spend $11.8 million to replace the bridge's freight track so it could support heavier trains.<ref name="p896915591">{{Cite news |last=Halbfinger |first=Caren |date=October 28, 2002 |title=Hudson Line on track for bigger freight trains |work=The Journal News |page=A.1 |id={{ProQuest|896915591}}}}</ref> After [[Peter Vallone Jr.]] was elected to his father's city council seat, the younger Vallone also unsuccessfully requested that Amtrak repaint the bridge throughout much of the 2000s.<ref name="NYT-Kilgannon" /><ref name="Duke 2009 b880">{{cite web |last=Duke |first=Nathan |date=December 19, 2009 |title=Repair Hell Gate: Vallone – QNS.com |url=https://qns.com/2009/12/repair-hell-gate-vallone/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=QNS.com |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308220337/https://qns.com/2009/12/repair-hell-gate-vallone/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Following further reports of cracks and falling debris,<ref name="n142959276">{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Chuck |date=August 25, 2006 |title=Cracks in bridge cause for concern |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-cracks-in-bridge-cause-for-conce/142959276/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |work=Newsday |pages=16 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308205902/https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-cracks-in-bridge-cause-for-conce/142959276/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Amtrak workers installed steel plates on the trackbed in the mid-2000s.<ref name="p306014209">{{cite news |last=Bertrand |first=Donald |date=March 24, 2006 |title=Rocks Just Miss Pol's Aide. Amtrak Ballast Stones Rain Onto Shore Blvd. |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|306014209}}}}</ref> Amtrak proposed raising rental fees for the land under the bridge's approach viaducts in 2006, in some cases as much as 100,000 percent.<ref name="Gannon 2016 t043" /> After further lobbying from the younger Vallone, Amtrak agreed to repair parts of the approach in 2008.<ref name="Toscano 2008 c902">{{cite web |last=Toscano |first=John |date=March 26, 2008 |title=Long Overdue Hell Gate Bridge Repairs Getting Underway |url=https://www.qgazette.com/articles/long-overdue-hell-gate-bridge-repairs-getting-underway/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Queens Gazette – |postscript=none |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308222355/https://www.qgazette.com/articles/long-overdue-hell-gate-bridge-repairs-getting-underway/ |url-status=live}}; {{Cite web |date=February 8, 2010 |title=Amtrak to remove scaffolding – QNS.com |url=https://qns.com/2010/02/amtrak-to-remove-scaffolding/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=QNS.com |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308222352/https://qns.com/2010/02/amtrak-to-remove-scaffolding/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The bridge's paint continued to fade during the 2010s.<ref name="NYT-Kilgannon" /> Local residents also requested that Amtrak add more lighting to the bridge, which was illuminated at night by a small number of lights below the deck.<ref name="Evelly 2013 x193" /><ref name="McRae 2014 y501">{{cite web |last=McRae |first=Tess |date=February 20, 2014 |title=Hell Gate Bridge may go to the light side |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/western/hell-gate-bridge-may-go-to-the-light-side/article_172cc88d-fb07-5be3-8598-533619f79121.html |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Queens Chronicle |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308214836/https://www.qchron.com/editions/western/hell-gate-bridge-may-go-to-the-light-side/article_172cc88d-fb07-5be3-8598-533619f79121.html |url-status=live}}</ref> By early 2016, several local politicians were advocating for Amtrak to repaint the bridge in advance of its centennial, citing the fact that various parts of the spans had become discolored.<ref name="Matua 2016 v847">{{cite web |last=Matua |first=Angela |date=March 2, 2016 |title=Queens officials call for a paint job of Astoria's Hell Gate Bridge – QNS.com |url=https://qns.com/2016/03/does-astoria-bridge-need-a-paintjpb/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=QNS.com |postscript=none |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308221843/https://qns.com/2016/03/does-astoria-bridge-need-a-paintjpb/ |url-status=live}}; {{Cite web |last=Ferry |first=Shannan |date=March 8, 2016 |title=Politicians, Local Leaders Call on Amtrak to Repaint Hell Gate Bridge |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/news/2016/03/7/politicians--local-leaders-call-on-amtrak-to-repaint-hell-gate-bridge |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |postscript=none |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308214836/https://spectrumlocalnews.com/news/2016/03/7/politicians--local-leaders-call-on-amtrak-to-repaint-hell-gate-bridge |url-status=live}}; {{Cite web |last=Evelly |first=Jeanmarie |date=March 1, 2016 |title=Astoria's Hell Gate Bridge Should Be Repainted for 100th Birthday, Pols Say |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160301/astoria/astorias-hell-gate-bridge-should-be-repainted-for-100th-birthday-pols-say/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=DNAinfo New York |archive-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120012403/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160301/astoria/astorias-hell-gate-bridge-should-be-repainted-for-100th-birthday-pols-say/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> That year, Amtrak increased rental fees for the land under the bridge from tens of dollars to as much as $40,000 a year.<ref name="Pilgrim 2016 l066">{{cite web |last=Pilgrim |first=Lexi |date=August 26, 2016 |title=Amtrak |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2016/08/26/adding-zeroes-amtrak-jacks-up-rent-for-queens-homeowners/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=The Real Deal |postscript=none |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308205902/https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2016/08/26/adding-zeroes-amtrak-jacks-up-rent-for-queens-homeowners/ |url-status=live}}; {{Cite web |last=Evelly |first=Jeanmarie |date=August 26, 2016 |title=Amtrak Hikes Rents For Backyard Spaces From $25 to $25K, Residents Say |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160826/ditmars/amtrak-hikes-rents-for-backyard-spaces-from-25-25k-residents-say/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=DNAinfo New York |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308205857/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160826/ditmars/amtrak-hikes-rents-for-backyard-spaces-from-25-25k-residents-say/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The railroad reversed the rent increases following outcry from local residents.<ref name="Christian 2016 c597">{{cite web |last=Christian |first=Lyndsay |date=November 4, 2016 |title=Amtrak Reverses Course on Rent Increase for Astoria Residents |url=https://ny1.com/nyc/queens/news/2016/11/4/amtrak-reverses-course-on-rent-increase-for-astoria-residents |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Spectrum News NY1 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308210021/https://ny1.com/nyc/queens/news/2016/11/4/amtrak-reverses-course-on-rent-increase-for-astoria-residents |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Evelly |first=Jeanmarie |date=November 7, 2016 |title=Amtrak Drops Massive Rent Hikes on Backyards of Astoria Homeowners |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161107/ditmars/amtrak-rescinds-rent-hikes-hell-gate-bridge/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=DNAinfo New York |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208170859/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161107/ditmars/amtrak-rescinds-rent-hikes-hell-gate-bridge/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Greater Astoria Historical Society]], in conjunction with Amtrak, celebrated the centennial of the bridge's opening in 2017.<ref name="Barone 2017 q167">{{cite web |last=Barone |first=Vincent |date=March 27, 2017 |title=Hell Gate Bridge, an Astoria icon, turns 100 years old |url=https://www.amny.com/news/hell-gate-bridge-an-astoria-icon-turns-100-years-old-1-13324799/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=amNewYork |postscript=none |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308215108/https://www.amny.com/news/hell-gate-bridge-an-astoria-icon-turns-100-years-old-1-13324799/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Calisi |first=Joseph M. |title=HELL GATE Hits 100 |date=2017 |magazine=[[Passenger Train Journal]] |publisher=[[White River Productions]] |pages=10–11 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite web |last=Evelly |first=Jeanmarie |date=March 9, 2017 |title=Astoria's Hell Gate Bridge Turns 100 This Week |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170309/ditmars/hell-gate-bridge-centennial-100th-anniversary/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=DNAinfo New York |archive-date=December 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225175417/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170309/ditmars/hell-gate-bridge-centennial-100th-anniversary/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> As part of [[Penn Station Access]], in the 2020s, the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] (MTA) began upgrading the Hell Gate Line to accommodate the [[Metro-North Railroad]]'s [[New Haven Line]].<ref name="NBC New York 2022 w911">{{cite web | title=4 New Metro-North Stations Break Ground in NYC. Here's When They'll Take You to Penn | website=NBC New York | date=December 9, 2022 | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/metro-north-to-penn-station-bronx-mta-stations-groundbreaking-begins-timeline-here/3990112/ | access-date=May 4, 2024}}</ref>