Portal Bridge replacement project officially begins
A ground breaking ceremony was held Oct. 31 for the replacement of the Portal Bridge, a two-track 110-year-old swing span structure linking New Jersey and New York City.
Search Results for: Hudson Tunnel Project
FTA issues ROD for Portal Bridge Project
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) that formally adopts the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Portal Bridge Project.
Hudson Tunnel DEIS identifies $13-billion preferred alternative
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement review (DEIS) for the Hudson Tunnel Project was released July 6 and identifies a nearly $13-billion preferred alternative that would build a new rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York and rehabilitate the existing North River Tunnel.
PANYNJ approves eight-year plan to overhaul Sandy-damaged tunnels
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Board of Commissioners approved a major overhaul of two PATH tunnels damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Gateway projects take step toward qualifying for major funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has moved the Hudson Tunnel Project and Portal North Bridge – both critical elements of the Gateway Program in the New York City area – into the Project Development process for a New Starts Grant available through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Gateway Program partners lay out project plans
Partners in the Gateway Program have outlined steps to move it forward including the allocation of $70 million for preliminary engineering, a federal pledge to streamline environmental reviews and finalization of development corporation structure.
Agreement reached to fund Hudson River Tunnels; establishes management entity
New York and New Jersey leaders have reached an agreement on funding commitments and a governance structure that will allow the Gateway Tunnel Project to move forward.
Feds would pay for half of new Hudson tunnel under Christie-Cuomo proposal
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent a letter to President Barack Obama outlining what they call “a viable funding framework to break the logjam over funding for a new trans-Hudson commuter rail tunnel.”
Engineering report details work needed to fix Amtrak New York tunnels
An engineering report, detailing damage to the Amtrak-owned Hudson River and East River tunnels from Superstorm Sandy, recommends a phased process to take individual tubes out of service for extended periods to perform the work required to maintain reliability of train movements in and out of New York City.
PANYNJ authorizes $50 million to clean salt from rail tunnels
Lingering latent salt residue left by Superstorm Sandy’s extensive flooding inside the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH) rail tunnels will be removed, with corroded cables, track and other equipment replaced, under a $50-million project authorization approved by PATH’s Board of Commissioners.
Construction begins on casing for Hudson Yards rail project
A critical first step was taken towards preserving a right-of-way for new rail tunnels under the Hudson River designed to withstand future flooding with the start of construction of an 800-foot concrete casing at the Hudson Yards facility in the heart of Manhattan. Construction of the concrete casing is expected to be complete in October 2015.
MTA 7 Subway extension project wins Construction Project of the Year
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $1.1 billion “Running Tunnels and Underground Structures” contract, the first portion of the $2.1-billion 7 Subway Line Extension Project, will be awarded the 2013 Construction Project of the Year by the New York State Society of Professional Engineers.
Amtrak prepares EA to preserve location of possible future tunnel
Amtrak has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the construction of an underground concrete casing to preserve a right-of-way for the future expansion of rail service between New Jersey and New York.
Amtrak plans significant infrastructure projects for 2013
Amtrak has set out to work on a long list of infrastructure projects during 2013.
Sen. Lautenberg voices support of Amtrak’s Gateway Project
U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) released the following statement after New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota expressed his support for Amtrak’s Gateway Tunnel project under the Hudson River.
Amtrak previews major projects to advance in 2012
With demand for intercity passenger rail service on the rise, Amtrak is moving forward with an aggressive agenda for 2012 and building for the future while strengthening current services.
Amtrak seeks $1.3B in funding for Gateway project on NEC
Amtrak is applying for nearly $1.3 billion in recently available high-speed and intercity passenger rail federal funding to move forward with a series of infrastructure improvements — including the Gateway Project –as critical first steps to bring next-generation high-speed rail to the Northeast Corridor.
"The Northeast Corridor is a premier region in the country to advance the nation’s high-speed rail program," said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman. "The Gateway Project improvements to increase passenger rail capacity and access into the heart of Manhattan are absolutely essential to make next-generation high-speed rail a reality."
A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation to name the NEC a federally designated high-speed rail corridor allows Amtrak to apply directly for this funding.
Specifically, Amtrak is requesting funding for three Gateway projects including a $720 million project to replace the more than 100-year-old movable Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey with a new, high-level fixed bridge. The Amtrak request is for $570 million with a contribution from the State of New Jersey of up to $150 million.
Amtrak is also asking for $188 million for preliminary engineering and environmental analysis for two new tunnels under the Hudson River into Manhattan with related infrastructure improvements and $50 million for similar work for the development of a new Penn Station South facility to accommodate more tracks and platforms in downtown New York.
Boardman emphasized that the Gateway Project is key for the future growth and economic development of the entire NEC region. The project will benefit Amtrak passengers traveling north to New York from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Delaware as well as riders from New England states who are traveling to destinations south of New York. He also said the Gateway Project is the cornerstone from which Amtrak intends to build a new, two-track 220 mph next-generation high(er)-speed rail system.
In addition, Amtrak is asking for $450 million for a project to support capacity increases and improve trip times between Philadelphia and New York- one of the busiest segments on the NEC. The project is designed to upgrade electrical power, signal systems and overhead catenary wires in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to improve reliability, increase speeds up to 160 mph and support more frequent high-speed service. It also will reconfigure track switches at the western entrance to New York Penn Station to mitigate congestion issues.
Amtrak also is applying for $15 million for the necessary environmental and preliminary engineering design to examine replacement options for the more than 100-year-old, low-level movable Pelham Bay Bridge over the Hutchinson River in the Bronx on the Hell Gate Line that connects New York to New England. The goal is for a new bridge to support expanded service and speeds up to 110 mph.
Amtrak says it has no plan to work on ARC project in New Jersey
The following statement
was issued by Amtrak to make clear its position on the Access to the Regions’
Core (ARC) tunnel project in New Jersey: "Amtrak is not having formal
discussions with NJ TRANSIT regarding a joint tunnel project and has no plans
to purchase any NJT work related to the ARC project.
Christie Administration halts New Jersey participation in ARC tunnel
New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie accepted the recommendation of the ARC Project Executive Committee to
terminate the ARC Project based on a 30-day review, which confirmed the project
is expected to substantially exceed its current budget. Based on calculations
by the Federal Transit Administration and the New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit),
the final budget is expected to top $11 billion and could exceed as much as $14
billion, compared to the project’s current budget of $8.7 billion.
New Jersey stops 100 road, rail projects
New Jersey transportation
officials said Oct. 5 they had indefinitely suspended about 100 state-funded
road and rail projects in their early stages as the cash-strapped state
grapples with how to pay for needed infrastructure improvements over the long
haul, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.