NJ TRANSIT ADVANCES MAJOR RESILIENCY UPGRADES AT HOBOKEN TERMINAL
New Tracks and Elevated Platforms Will Create Resiliency as Part of Long Slip Fill and Rail Enhancement Project
March 12, 2024
NEWARK, NJ – NJ TRANSIT continues advancing major resiliency upgrades at Hoboken Terminal as part of Phase 2 of the Long Slip Fill and Rail Enhancement Project. Today, the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors approved a contract for the construction of six new tracks, three ADA-accessible high-level platforms, and a new passenger/rail personnel facility. A separate contract was also approved for special trackwork to be done as part of the ongoing project.
“The approval of Phase 2 for this project marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to significantly improve resiliency, accessibility and the customer experience at Hoboken Terminal,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “This vital project not only enhances the experience at one of the tri-state region’s busiest intermodal transit hubs, but it supports our broader resiliency strategy by fortifying our network against the impacts of extreme weather events.”
The Long Slip Fill and Rail Enhancement Project area is located within the Hoboken Rail Yard along the Hudson River Waterfront near the boundary of southern Hoboken and northeastern Jersey City. NJ TRANSIT was awarded a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) competitive resiliency grant for the project to provide flood protection, surge protection for rail yard equipment and infrastructure, and flood resilient commuter tracks and platforms.
Superstorm Sandy had a devastating impact on vulnerable areas of the transit system. The storm’s aftermath taught lessons on how critical it is to rebuild infrastructure with resiliency firmly in mind. The Long Slip project will mean future storms will do far less damage. It also provides the opportunity to construct new ADA-accessible rail platforms well above surge levels that adds greater capacity at Hoboken Terminal, and further ensures the integrity of the transportation network following extreme weather events.
Phase 1 of the project – completed in June 2023 – extended the municipal sewer that permitted the former canal to be filled in. Phase 2 calls for the construction of new tracks, a new station area with ADA-accessible high-level boarding platforms, and a new passenger/rail personnel facility on what was the former waterway. The project is part of NJ TRANSIT’s Resilience Program. The new tracks and platforms, with higher elevation, will better protect the terminal and improve NJ TRANSIT’s ability to continue operating rail service through extreme weather events.
With today’s action, the Board authorized NJ TRANSIT to enter into a contract with Schiavone Construction Co., LLC of Secaucus, New Jersey, in the amount of $211,134,822.00, plus 10 percent for contingencies, for Phase 2 of construction services.
Additionally, the Board approved a separate contract with Voestalpine Railway Systems Nortrak, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama, for the purchase of Special Trackwork in the amount of $1,898,198 + 5% for contingencies. This Special Trackwork, which is also part of Phase 2 of the project, refers to five wood timber turnouts, four concrete crosstie turnouts, one wood timber crossover, and one wood timber double slip switch, totaling 11 individual special trackwork packages.
Hoboken Terminal is one of the tri-state area’s major transportation hubs and is served by eight NJ TRANSIT commuter rail lines in addition to NJ TRANSIT bus and private carrier bus routes, the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail, the Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) rapid transit system, and NY Waterway-operated ferries.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.