By Ashley Karen
Amtrak has launched the procurement phase of the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for construction services for the comprehensive renewal of two of the four tubes in the tunnel. The work will update the tunnel infrastructure, enhancing safety, service capacity, reliability, and security and bring the systems to a state of good repair employed by Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT and Long Island Rail Road. Initial work is already ongoing in Sunnyside Yard with significant building beginning in early 2024 and continuing through 2027.
Stephen Gardner, Amtrak CEO claimed: “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.”
He also added: “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 project is qualified for federal funding through the FY 2022-2023 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP-NEC Program) developed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
An application for the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project’s full funding grant was submitted in March 2023 in response to the FSP-NEC Program Notice of Funding Opportunity. Amtrak issued this RFQ in expectation of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant decision anticipated in Fall 2023.
Previously, Amtrak applied for and was granted a fund under the FY 2021 Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program for the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Enabling Components Project, which will secure that traction power is carried in each of the tunnel lines while rehabilitation activities are ongoing.
Further funding by the State of New York was declared in December 2021 by Senator Schumer, who promoted an agreement in which MTA dedicated up to $432 million for the East River Tunnel project.
The chosen construction contractor will consecutively rehabilitate both tubes by demolishing the current tunnel systems down to the concrete liner and executing the reconstruction of all the systems. Interested contractors should track Amtrak’s Procurement Portal for other solicitation information and submittal necessities.
The work will be conducted under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) as part of a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Amtrak and North America’s Building Trades Unions, covering Amtrak’s main civil engineering projects.
This project is one of the several major infrastructure ones that Capital Delivery, Amtrak’s newest department, is progressing.
Earlier this year, Amtrak also launched the procurement for the B&P Tunnel replacement in Maryland and the Connecticut River Bridge replacement with similar procurement opportunities in the coming months.
