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| East Side Access –
Bringing Long Island Rail Road Into
Grand Central Terminal |
Project Description
Parsons, a world leader in transportation system design, is a full partner in the General Engineering Services contract to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for this project, which is the first significant transit expansion program in New York in nearly 50 years. Parsons' primary role includes preliminary engineering, final design, and design support services during construction for the railroad and facility systems elements of the project. This includes all signaling, communications, traction power, overhead catenary, track work, and third rail systems; as well as all auxiliary power, station ventilation, fire suppression, fire alarm and security systems.
East Side Access is a $6.3B, 12-year project to bring Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) service to the east side of New York City, using new and existing tunnels from Queens connecting into Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
The new project infrastructure connects to the LIRR in Queens at the Harold Interlocking Complex, the busiest commuter rail switching location in the country. Harold Interlocking serves LIRR, Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and freight rail traffic with over 700 trains daily. Parsons is designing a full systems reconstruction to this complex interlocking, including major upgrades to microprocessor-based signaling, color light signal aspects, supervisory control, and introduction of track switches with moveable point frogs, all to enhance safety, reliability, operating speed and ride quality. One of the biggest design challenges is to plan and stage the construction of these major changes over a five year period with minimal impact to LIRR customers. The microprocessor control equipment will be designed to support both the existing configuration, as well as each stage of construction through to completion and then fabricated, pre-tested and installed in stages. This approach saves both time and cost and reduces operational impacts throughout the interlocking reconstruction process.
Besides the reconstruction of Harold Interlocking, there are a number of technical challenges that include adding nine new traction power substations to the LIRR network; adding low-vibration direct fixed track; installing fully integrated communications, tunnel lighting, signaling, and fire-life safety systems in 65,000 feet of underground tunnel; and reconstructing an existing underground train yard into a modern 350,000 square foot terminal station concourse. Parsons will design station mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment for this new concourse and associated train caverns to meet modern safety and comfort standards for underground facilities that will provide an architectural and structural style which complements the historic and aesthetic aspects of Grand Central Terminal. A post 9/11 security and access control system for the MTA police is another key feature of Parsons responsibility. Parsons will also oversee the design-build construction of a new railcar maintenance facility and storage yard to maintain and service up to 24 LIRR trains at one time, each over 1,000 ft. long. The facilities include a new car wash, interior cleaning facilities, and a maintenance repair shop.
The LIRR carries an average of 270,000 passengers each weekday and has been an essential regional commuter rail service since it began in 1834. Through the MTA/LIRR East Side Access Project, LIRR is realizing its 30-year-old goal to provide passenger service to Grand Central Terminal, which will improve “one-seat ride” access between the Long Island transportation corridor (Suffolk, Nassau, and Queens counties) and the east side of Manhattan. The roadways, transit system, and LIRR’s current service to Penn Station, which serve this area, have reached capacity. East Side Access will contribute significantly to regional growth and development by expanding the transportation capacity required to support job growth and the demand for travel into Manhattan's business district.
LIRR is the busiest railroad in North America. Even without the introduction of new service, rail patronage is projected to grow 27% by 2020. The addition of 24 peak trains per hour into Grand Central Terminal will alleviate current and future crowding on LIRR trains. Service to the terminal would also ease track capacity issues in Penn Station and allow the expansion of other rail lines including Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and Metro-North. The new service is scheduled to start in 2013 with over 60,000 passengers expected to commute into Grand Central Terminal and another 160,000 passengers using Penn Station during morning peak periods. Long Island commuters to Manhattan's east side will enjoy commute times as much as 30 minutes shorter each way.
Parsons is playing an integral role in of the nation’s most complex transit projects.
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