On Nov. 19, GDC reported releasing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the project that involves building approximately 7,540 feet of above-ground viaduct and berm trackway adjacent to the Northeast Corridor (NEC), which the Commission said will enable the construction of new tracks connecting the existing NEC tracks in New Jersey to the entrance to the new Hudson Tunnel (see map above). The project’s scope of work encompasses designing and building new trackway infrastructure, including retaining walls, a new viaduct, bridges, and an access road, as well as relocating overhead electric, gas, and communication lines (see renderings below). This project does not include building new railroad systems, such as new track and signals. GDC said it will award the contract for that work via future solicitations.
Responses for the Hudson Tunnel Project Package 3: NJSA Project are due Jan. 14, 2025. After evaluating the Statements of Qualifications, GDC said it plans to shortlist entities and issue a Request for Proposals. Only shortlisted respondents will be eligible to submit a proposal.
The $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project is one of several Gateway Program projects to upgrade and increase capacity on the New Jersey-to-New York portion of the NEC, the most heavily used passenger rail line in the U.S., hosting more than 2,200 train movements and 800,000 passenger trips daily.
“We have made incredible progress since we broke ground on the Hudson Tunnel Project last November,” GDC Acting CEO Patrick McCoy said. “This RFQ marks the beginning of a move into a critical new phase of construction that will integrate the new tunnel into our existing rail network. Starting the procurement process for this project is an exciting milestone that reflects how far we’ve come in just one year of construction and keeps us moving full steam ahead.”
At that time, GDC said that significant progress had been made on Hudson Tunnel Project construction since the Full Funding Grant Agreement for the project was secured in July. Construction crews had poured the first concrete for the new tunnel at the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project in North Bergen, N.J. Also, work was under way on Phase 2 of the Hudson River Ground Stabilization Project, which prepares the Hudson riverbed for tunnel boring. Phase 1 began in May 2024 and was expected to conclude this fall. Phase Two will be completed in 2027.
