The MTA announced on Feb. 11 a shortlist of contractors who they believe are qualified to build the Metro-North Penn Access Project.
The Metro-North Penn Access Project aims to introduce Metro-North service into New York’s Penn Station, creating a second route for Metro-North to reach Manhattan and providing a direct, one-seat ride to the west side of Manhattan for riders in Connecticut, Westchester, and the Bronx. The plan will also bring four new fully accessible stations in the east Bronx.
The project is expected to finish by 2024.
“This project is transformative for people who want to get from the East Bronx and Westchester to the West Side of Midtown Manhattan – likewise for those who want to access the East Bronx and job centers in Westchester and Connecticut,” said MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber. “The new MTA Construction & Development organization is moving quickly to execute the new $51.5 billion 2020-24 Capital Program, and encouraging contractors to compete and bring us innovative strategies to deliver projects faster, better and cheaper.”
The qualified consortia announced include Halmar International, LLC/Railworks, JV (Ove Arup & Partners P.C., Lead Designer), Skanska ECCO III Penn Station Connectors, JV (AECOM USA, Inc., Lead Designer) and Tutor Perini/O&G, JV (Parsons Transportation Group of New York, Inc., Lead Designer). In October 2019, the MTA held an informational open house for potential applicants, who were evaluated and selected by a team of expert reviewers consisting of personnel from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, LIRR, Metro-North and Amtrak.
The firms were chosen based off of a strict criteria, including experience with projects of this scale, past performance, financial strength, diversity practices, personnel and commitment to minimizing construction impacts.
“This is a hugely important milestone for a project that has long been on the books, a project that represents that largest expansion of Metro-North Railroad since it was created 37 years ago,” said Catherine Rinaldi, President of MTA Metro-North Railroad. “We are thrilled, as are our customers and stakeholders, that this project is advancing. We will work closely with MTA Construction & Development to fully support this project and ensure it is completed as quickly as possible.”
The project is being funded under the MTA’s 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 Capital Programs. Upon completion, the MTA predicts that the project will result in 50,000 customer trips made per day on the new route, including up to 20,000 that start or end at the four new stations in the Bronx.
“I’m thrilled to see the Metro-North Penn Access Project moving forward so quickly,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This landmark project will create vital connections between The Bronx and its surrounding areas and it must be executed in a way which prioritizes the community and holds contractors accountable for top-notch results. Thank you to the MTA for your innovative work to improve our transit infrastructure.”
