Three Firms Qualify To Extend Metro North To Penn Station: MTA

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — MTA officials have narrowed down list of construction firms to bid for the design-build contract to extend Metro-North Railroad service to Penn Station, transit officials announced Tuesday.

Three firms — Halmar International, Skanska and Tutor Perini — were deemed "qualified" to bid for the project that will result in the creation of three new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx and Metro-North extension to Penn Station. Bids from the firms must undergo a full environmental assessment with end result of a "finding of no significant impact" by the Federal Transit Administration and be approved by the MTA board.

MTA officials estimate that the Penn Station Access project will be complete by 2023.

"The new MTA Construction & Development organization is moving quickly to execute the new $51.5 billion 2020-24 Capital Program, and encouraging contractors to compete and bring us innovative strategies to deliver projects faster, better and cheaper," MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber said in a statement.

MTA officials estimate that ridership on the extended New Haven Metro-North line will be about 50,000 trips per day, with 20,000 of those trips originating in the East Bronx. Each new station in the Bronx will be ADA-Accessible, transit officials said.

The Penn Station Access extension could cut the commute time from the East Bronx to Penn Station by about 45 minutes, transit officials said.

Bids will be solicited from qualified firms through a request for proposals process, transit officials said. Bids that minimize disruption to communities near construction sites and emphasize meeting the project's timeline will be favored.

Other criteria that the MTA board will consider include:

• The firm's experience in projects of a similar scale;
• The firm's past performance in quality and its ability to complete projects on time and on budget;
• Experience of the firm's staff;
• A commitment to minimize construction impacts;
• Financial strength and capability;
• Diversity practices.