Amtrak has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for construction services as part of its launch of the procurement phase of the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project between New Jersey and New York.
The 114-year-old tunnel was damaged during Superstorm Sandy. The rehabilitation project will modernize the tunnel infrastructure, improve safety and reliability and bring the system shared by Amtrak, NJ Transit, and the Long Island Rail Road into a good state of repair, officials said. Prep work is already underway at the Sunnyside Yard. Major construction is expected to begin in early 2024, with a completion date estimated to be sometime in 2027.
“This project will renew the East River Tunnel for another century, connect local residents to jobs and economic opportunities, and deliver a modern, more reliable, and improved travel experience,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “As we usher in a new era for passenger rail, we are proud to work with our partners at MTA and NJ TRANSIT and thank Senator Schumer and the congressional delegation of New York and New Jersey for their efforts to ensure funding is available.”
The construction contractor that wins the RFQ will rehabilitate both tunnel tubes by demolishing the existing tunnel systems and reconstructing them from the concrete liner up. The project will be eligible for federal funding via the FY 2022-2023 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. An application for full grant funding for the project was submitted in March. Amtrak said it has issued the RFQ in anticipation of a decision by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in fall 2023. Other funding, in the amount of $432 million from MTA, was secured by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in December 2021.
“Thanks to the $24 billion for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program on the Northeast Corridor that I secured in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the work to secure commitments from the parties involved, Amtrak can move forward to repair the East River Tunnels damaged during Sandy that are so vital to LIRR commuters,” Schumer said. “The funding and commitments I secured will help strengthen New York’s infrastructure for Long Islanders on the LIRR and Amtrak riders for years to come.”