hudson tunnel project · • scoping period: may 2, 2016 – may 31, 2016 • scoping meetings: •...

Federal Railroad Administration

HUDSON TUNNEL PROJECT

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES

Secaucus Junction, NJNovember 10, 2016

Hotel Pennsylvania, NYNovember 17, 2016


Hudson Tunnel Meeting


PURPOSE AND NEEDFOR THE HUDSONTUNNEL PROJECT

PURPOSE AND NEEDFOR THE HUDSONTUNNEL PROJECT


• Both tubes of existing North RiverTunnel were inundated duringSuperstorm Sandy and the tunnel wasclosed for 5 days

• The tunnel is safe for use, but stormdamage continues to degradetunnel systems

Need for the Project

Inundation of tunnel during Superstorm Sandy

photos courtesy of Amtrak


• The existing rail tunnel is safe for usebut requires ongoing and emergencymaintenance which disrupts rail service

• Long-term, the storm damage can onlybe addressed through a comprehensivereconstruction of the tunnel

• Existing train service (approximately450 trains per day) must be maintainedwhile reconstruction is under way

Need for the Project

Monitoring and repairsare continuouslynecessary

photos courtesy of Amtrak


Project Purpose

• To preserve the current functionality ofAmtrak’s Northeast Corridor service andNJ TRANSIT’s commuter rail servicebetween New Jersey and Penn StationNew York by repairing the deterioratingNorth River Tunnel.

• To strengthen the Northeast Corridor’sresiliency to support reliable service byproviding redundant capability under theHudson River for Amtrak and NJ TRANSITtrains between New Jersey and theexisting Penn Station New York.

• These improvements must be achievedwhile maintaining uninterruptedcommuter and intercity rail service andby optimizing the use of existinginfrastructure.


Project Goals and Objectives

1: Improve service reliability and upgradeexisting tunnel infrastructure in a cost-effective manner.

• Reduce infrastructure-related delays due to poorcondition of the North River Tunnel followingSuperstorm Sandy.

• Rehabilitate the North River Tunnel to modernsystem standards.

2: Maintain existing NEC service,capacity, and functionality by ensuringNorth River Tunnel rehabilitation occursas soon as possible.

• Optimize use of existing infrastructure.

• Use conclusions from prior planning studies asappropriate and to the maximum extent possible.

• Avoid regional and national economic impactsassociated with loss of rail service.

3: Strengthen the NEC’s resiliency to providereliable service across the Hudson River,facilitating long-term infrastructure maintenanceand enhancing operational flexibility.

• Construct additional tracks to allow for continued NortheastCorridor rail operations during maintenance periods andunanticipated human-caused and natural events.

4: Do not preclude future trans-Hudson railcapacity expansion projects.

• Allow for connections to future capacity expansion projects,including connections to Secaucus Junction Station inSecaucus through to the Portal Bridge over the HackensackRiver, and connections to station expansion projects in thearea of Penn Station NY.

5: Minimize impacts on the natural and builtenvironment.

• Avoid/minimize adverse impacts on communities andneighborhoods.

• Strive for consistency with local plans and policies.

• Preserve the natural and built environment.


ENVIRONMENTALANALYSIS

ENVIRONMENTALANALYSIS


Environmental ImpactStatement Process

Final Environmental Impact StatementRecord of Decision Spring 2018

Summer 2017Public Review

Summer 2017Draft Environmental Impact Statement

May 2-31, 2016Scoping Process

May 2, 2016Notice of Intent

We are here


Scoping Process

• Scoping Period: May 2, 2016 – May 31, 2016

• Scoping Meetings:• May 17, 2016 at Hotel Pennsylvania, NY

• May 19, 2016 at Union City High School, NJ

• Open House Format and Formal Presentation

• 186 people attended

• Public Comments:• Comments accepted through May 31, 2016

• Comments received on broad range of issues:

• Environmental Review Procedures and Public Outreach

• Project Definition and Purpose and Need

• Project Cost and Funding

• Alternatives

• Environmental Analyses

• Project Schedule

• Support for Project

• Scoping Summary Report:• Report summarizing comments and responses completed October 2016

• Available on Project website (hudsontunnelproject.com)


What is an Environmental ImpactStatement?

• Document that evaluates a project’s impacts on the natural and builtenvironment

• Includes impacts of the completed project and its construction impacts

• Identifies measures to avoid and mitigate impacts

• Considers alternatives to avoid or reduce impacts

• Reflects input received through public review opportunities

• Transportation

• Social & Economic Conditions

• Property Acquisition

• Parks and Recreational Resources

• Visual & Aesthetic Resources

• Historic & Archaeological Resources

• Air Quality

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions &

Resilience

EIS ANALYSIS AREAS• Noise & Vibration

• Ecology

• Contaminated Materials

• Environmental Justice

• Secondary & Cumulative Effects

• Section 4(f) Evaluation(parklands, protected wildlife areas,& historic structures/sites)


Section 106 of the NationalHistoric Preservation Act

FRA and NJ TRANSIT are alsoevaluating the Project in accordancewith Section 106 of the NationalHistoric Preservation Act.

• Section 106 requires consultation withinterested parties and the public on theProject’s effects on historic properties.

• Any information on potential historicproperties and cultural resources in thestudy area or issues to be considered iswelcome.

• Parties with a specific interest in historicissues can request status as a ProjectConsulting Party under Section 106 bycontacting FRA or NJ TRANSIT.

Historic image of North River Tunnel portal, North Bergen, NJ


ALTERNATIVESEVALUATION

ALTERNATIVESEVALUATION


Alternatives Evaluation

Step 1: Review of alternatives identified in previous studies andsuggested during Scoping:

• A bridge alternative

• Other tunnel alignments

• Modification to Project to include other Project elements

The only Build Alternative concept found to meet the Project purpose and need is a newtwo-track tunnel with rehabilitation of the existing tunnel.

Other alternatives were found not to meet the Project’s purpose and need due to:

• Constraints of connecting from the NEC into the existing tracks at Penn Station NY;

• Constraints related to the need to complete the Project quickly; or

• Constraints related to maintaining existing train capacity through the Hudson Rivercrossing.

To meet the Project’s purpose and need, any BuildAlternative must at a minimum:

• Connect into the existing tracks at Penn Station NY.

• Have a grade not exceeding 2.1 percent to safely and efficiently

operate passenger trains.

• Address the urgent need to rehabilitate the North River Tunnel.

photo courtesy of Amtrak

Deterioration and damagein the North River Tunnel


Alternatives Evaluation

Four different alignment optionswere evaluated for the BuildAlternative’s new tunnel.

• Alignments were identified based onpotential locations where the NewJersey vent shaft/fan plant could besited. The vent shaft must belocated directly above the tunneland east of the Palisades.

• The four alignment options wereevaluated in terms of how well theymeet the Project’s purpose andneed.

Existing TunnelShaft Site andConstruction Staging

Tunnel AlignmentOption

Construction Staging


Alignment Options Considered


PREFERREDALTERNATIVEPREFERRED

ALTERNATIVE


Benefits of Preferred Alternative

• A tunnel is the only alternative that meets the Project'spurpose and need.

• The Preferred Alternative's tunnel alignment is the one thatbest meets the Project needs.

• The Preferred Alternative provides the least potential fordelays to the Project schedule because:

• It connects into the underground right-of-way being preserved byAmtrak at the Western and Eastern Rail Yards in Manhattan.

• It maximizes the use of earlier work performed as part of the Accessto the Region’s Core (ARC) Project, such as property acquisition,investigation and remediation.

• The Preferred Alternative causes minimal impacts to existingtransit and other transportation services.


Preferred Alternative

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W E E H A W K E N

U N I O N C I T Y

N O R T H B E R G E N

N E WY O R K

S E C A U C U S

H O B O K E N

NEW TUNNEL PORTAL

EXISTING TUNNEL TO BE REHABILITATED

NEW VENTILATION FACILITY

IN-WATER CONSTRUCTION

NEW SURFACE TRACKS

NEW TUNNEL

SHAFT SITE &CONSTRUCTIONSTAGING AREACONSTRUCTION

STAGING AREA

SHAFT SITE &CONSTRUCTIONSTAGING AREA

NEW VENTILATION FACILITY

To PSNY

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY DURING TUNNELING

EXISTING TUNNEL PORTAL

LEGEND

Existing Northeast Corridor

Existing North River Tunnel to be Rehabilitated

Amtrak Right-of-Way Preservation

Tunnel Alignment Option

Tunnel Portal

New Surface Tracks

Ventilation Shaft Site & Construction Staging Area

Construction Staging Area

In-Water Construction

New Ventilation Facilities

Hudson Tunnel Project Figure 7Preferred Alternative

11.16.16


Preferred Alternative

• Two new tracks from the NortheastCorridor in Secaucus, NJ, beneath thePalisades, Hoboken, and the HudsonRiver to connect to the existingapproach tracks that lead into PennStation New York.

• Three new ventilation shafts/fanplants directly above the new tunnel.

• Rehabilitation of the existingtunnel once the new tunnel iscomplete. When the rehabilitation iscomplete, both the existing and newtunnels would be in service, providingincreased operational flexibility forAmtrak and NJ TRANSIT.


RELATED/PREVIOUSPROJECTS

RELATED/PREVIOUSPROJECTS


Gateway Program

Gateway Program: A Long-Term Plan to Increase Capacity on the Northeast Corridor

hudson tunnel project · • scoping period: may 2, 2016 – may 31, 2016 • scoping meetings: •...

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