From your article: "The wind retrofit project is designed to make the Bridge more aerodynamic under high wind conditions and is necessary to ensure the safety and structural integrity of the Bridge for generations to come,” Cosulich-Schwartz said."

This statement doesn't agree with the video's rationale for updating the railings. I'm guessing the new suicide net increased the wind loading, so the handrail had to be modified to reduce its wind loading. Without the suicide net project, I doubt the handrails would be changed. But the suicide net project is contentious politically, so they cannot admit this.

The new handrail uses long, unsupported plates. The old handrail was far more rigid:

https://www.bontena.com/contents/2018/12/Interview-with-Rick...