Northeast Infra Projects
(currently being updated)
The Northeast region of the United States is witnessing a transformative era with ambitious infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity, sustainability, and economic growth. Significant investments in highway upgrades, bridge repairs, and public transit expansions are underway across states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. These projects address aging infrastructure and incorporate advanced technologies and green solutions to ensure long-term resilience and environmental stewardship. The Northeast's commitment to revitalizing its infrastructure is poised to bolster regional competitiveness, create jobs, and provide a more reliable and efficient transportation network for millions of residents and businesses.
Metro North - $1.85 billion Penn Station Access Design-Build Project
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Project Sector: Heavy Railways
Project Owner: Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Estimated Project Value: $1.85 billion
Expected Completion: 2027
SYSTRA is a major subconsultant to the lead designer, as part of the joint venture team awarded the $1.85 billion Penn Station Access Design-Build Project. SYSTRA is responsible for all design and engineering of track, AC power, signals, stray current and corrosion control, and systems integration. Together, the team is slated to complete the project in just over five years.
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For the first time, Metro-North will provide rail service from the Bronx, Westchester, and Connecticut directly to Penn Station and Manhattan’s West Side.
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This extension will improve regional transportation connectivity, enhance network resiliency, promote sustainability, and link communities, and will be implemented in conjunction with Amtrak, LIRR, and CSX railroads, connecting Penn Station New York to Metro-North’s New Haven rail line. This will reduce commute times considerably to the Bronx, Westchester, and Connecticut. Penn Station Access will rehabilitate Amtrak’s Hell Gate Line, improving reliability and on-time service for intercity passengers and preparing the corridor for eventual high-speed rail.
Four new accessible stations will be built in the East Bronx. In addition, 19 miles of track and substations will be constructed, the New Rochelle train yard will be reconfigured, and signal and communications technology will be modernized.
WMATA SHEPHERD PARKWAY BUS GARAGE
Project Sector: Systems integration, systems safety and assurance
Project Owner: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Expected Completion: Ongoing
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To transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2045, Metro is beginning a transition period when diesel buses will no longer be purchased and new vehicles will be a mix of low- and zero-emission buses. To support this initiative, SYSTRA is is leading systems and safety assurance and systems integration of the infrastructure needed to support an electric bus fleet.
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To provide data and information on real time operating conditions, Metro is carrying out an electric bus test and evaluation at its Shepherd Parkway Bus Division. The test and evaluation period will include 12 electric buses, enabling Metro to test multiple vehicles and charging manufacturers, as well as ensure that different buses and charging technologies will work interchangeably and are scalable.
New Jersey Transit - Portal North Bridge in New Jersey
Project Type: Brownfield
Project Sub-Sector: Bridges
Project Owner: NJ TRANSIT
Estimated Project Value: USD 1,800 million
Estimated Date of Completion: 2026
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New Jersey’s public transportation corporation, NJ TRANSIT (NJT), is constructing the 3.92-kilometer Portal North Bridge in New Jersey, USA. The construction is managed by a joint venture between Skanska and Traylor Bros (JV), with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, NJ TRANSIT, and Amtrak. As a key component of the Gateway Program, this project aims to enhance safety, speed, and reliability for thousands of commuters.
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The project involves demolishing the existing bridge and building retaining walls, deep foundations, concrete piers, structural steel bridge spans, and rail systems. The new two-track, fixed-span bridge over the Hackensack River is designed to reduce service disruptions and increase capacity and service on the Northeast Corridor.
NYCHA MAYORAL ROOFING PROJECTS
Project Sector: Architectural, structural, and MEP design
Project Owner: New York City Housing Authority
Expected Completion: Ongoing
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SYSTRA A&E is providing design services for roof replacements for various New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments.
The work involves complete roof replacement, associated masonry repairs and replacement, and related improvements.
The reroofing and rooftop structure renovation is designed seamlessly, preventing water, thermal, air, and vapor conditions to migrate through the building enclosure and roofing system.
METRO-NORTH BABYLON INTERLOCKING SIGNAL SYSTEM UPGRADE
Project Sector: Signal system design
Project Owner: Metro-North Railroad
Expected Completion: 2027
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SYSTRA is a member of the design-build team for this project to replace and upgrade the aging signal equipment in Babylon Interlocking, which is located on the Montauk Branch and comprised of five locations.
As a subconsultant to the lead designer, SYSTRA is reviewing the signaling design that is being prepared by the contractor’s signal supplier.
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The work is divided into two design packages: civil design and signal design. SYSTRA will be involved in every facet of the design, including testing and simulations leading to a final design, and will be the Engineer of Record for the signaling system.
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Most of the interlocking’s signal system components were installed in the 1960s and have reached or exceeded their useful life. The cost of signal maintenance is increasing, and train service is disrupted regularly because of signal equipment failures.
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The upgraded signal system will improve service reliability by reducing equipment failures thus support LIRR’s on-time performance and safety goals.
NYCT IMPROVED RESILIENCY OF RCC CRITICAL SYSTEMS
Project Sector: Communications, systems
Project Owner: New York City Transit
Expected Completion: 2027
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Hosting several applications essential to NYCT’s operations, the Rail Control Center (RCC) has critical space, power, and connectivity constraints. Maintaining the system in a state-of-good-repair is also a challenge. To address the redundancy and resiliency of software applications at the RCC and accommodate its expansion and a backup control center, SYSTRA is reviewing and analyzing various mission critical software applications in use at the RCC.
The work involves identifying critical systems, performing a feasibility study, and developing a master plan to be submitted to a design-build contractor for construction of a redundant system at another site. This involves assessing the applications to ensure that if there is a catastrophic failure of computer rooms at the RCC NYCT personnel can maintain operations and effectively manage service and incidents without relocating to an alternate disaster recovery location.
As a result of insight gathered through SYSTRA’s extensive work on the NYCT CBTC Program, SYSTRA was awarded the work to help the agency improve the reliability and availability of several critical systems hosted at the center currently.
NYCT SIGNAL SYSTEM MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
Project Sector: Communications, systems
Project Owner: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Expected Completion: Ongoing
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As part of its ongoing signal modernization program, NYCT is upgrading its signal system to Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology. Since 2015, SYSTRA has been the prime consultant representing NYCT throughout the procurement, design, and construction phases (including installation, testing and commissioning, and deployment) of I2S-compliant CBTC modernization (GoA2 level automation) projects.
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Our work involves three lines: Queens Boulevard West (QBL CBTC), Eighth Avenue (Eighth Avenue CBTC), and Queens Boulevard East (QBL East CBTC).
SYSTRA is directing the development and evolution of the common NYCT CBTC specifications for the Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) and Automatic Train Control (ATC) subsystems, which will guide all future procurements of NYCT’s CBTC Signal Modernization Program. SYSTRA has also provided revisions to the interoperable CBTC specifications (I2S), qualification of an additional vendor for future CBTC projects, and safety assurance according to Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) regulations and CENELEC standards.
SEPTA SOLAR SIGNAL POWER REINFORCEMENT PROJECT
Project Sector: Signal design
Project Owner:Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Expected Completion: Ongoing
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SEPTA is modernizing and increasing the resiliency of its signal power supply system by providing solar power reinforcement technology for rail signals on its Regional Rail lines. SYSTRA is responsible for signals design and engineering services for the installation of solar supply and distribution systems.
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The first project on SEPTA’s system in which solar panels will be used to provide signal power, it will improve safety and sustainability and help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Providing a backup power source, the solar panels will be an advantage during severe weather, meaning the signal system can run for two days if the primary power source fails.