Jump to content


Photo

LIRR/Ronkonkoma Branch double tracking project


  • Please log in to reply
6 replies to this topic

#1 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 28 August 2015 - 09:21 AM

Progressive Railroading, 8/28/15:

 


Crews lay down first sections of rail for LIRR's $388 double-track project

 

Crews have begun installing the first sections of rail as part of a $388 million double-track project along MTA Long Island Rail Road's (LIRR) Ronkonkoma Branch, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday.

Read



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#2 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 29 August 2015 - 01:28 PM

LIRR news release, 8/27:

 

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Double Track Milestone Toward Improving Ronkonkoma Branch Service
 
Construction of New Track Connecting Ronkonkoma to Farmingdale Begins
 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that MTA Long Island Rail Road has reached an important milestone to improve service on the busy Ronkonkoma Branch. Workers began installing the first sections of rail on the $388 million Double Track Project, which will build a second track over an 18-mile stretch between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma stations.

 

"Today, we take action to help alleviate congestion on one of the Long Island Rail Road's busiest lines and improve the commute for the tens of thousands of Long Islanders who depend on it,” Governor Cuomo said. “After decades of talk, I'm proud to see the Double Track project become a reality."

 

“The Double Track Project is the key to improving service reliability and on-time performance on one of the LIRR’s busiest branches by allowing us to increase service during off-peak and weekend periods. The MTA is investing billions of dollars in this and other LIRR infrastructure improvements and using an innovative design-build process that gets the job done faster. This commitment is sure to pay dividends by making Long Island more competitive and more convenient long into the future,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast.

 

Ridership on the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch is over 48,000 each weekday and has doubled over the last 25 years, growing in popularity since the line was electrified in 1988. With just one track along most of the 18-mile route between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, the LIRR can operate a limited number of trains and lacks operational flexibility in the event of a disruption. If one train becomes disabled, all other trains (east and west) have no way around the problem.

 

Construction of an uninterrupted second track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma has been part of the LIRR’s vision for decades. With design of the full project moving ahead, the first phase of construction got underway last year with workers clearing the path for four miles of new track between Ronkonkoma and Central Islip. The budget for the project design and this first section of track is $138 million, funded in the MTA’s 2010-2014 Capital Program. Phase 2 of the Double Track Project will extend the second track another 12.6 miles to Farmingdale, a goal the LIRR hopes to reach by 2019. The second phase’s $250 million cost is included in the MTA’s proposed 2015 – 2019 Capital Program.

 

“The four-mile stretch between Ronkonkoma and Central Islip is the first leg of the Double Track Project that will ultimately bring half-hourly, off-peak service to the Ronkonkoma Branch, improve service reliability and support economic growth by constructing a second track 18 miles to Farmingdale. When complete, east and westbound trains will operate simultaneously between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma. This will mean better reverse peak service to help spur the growth of employment centers on Long Island,” said LIRR President Patrick A. Nowakowski.

 

Nowakowski was joined this morning by local elected officials, including Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and State Sens. Phil Boyle and Thomas Croci, and Long Island business and labor leaders for the ceremonial placement of the first section of rail near the Pond Road railroad crossing in Ronkonkoma. Funding for the second phase of the Double Track Project is included in the MTA’s proposed 2015 - 2019 Capital Program.

 

“I applaud Governor Cuomo and the Long Island Rail Road’s extensive and proactive efforts to add a second a track on the Ronkonkoma line. Not only will service be enhanced and more convenient for our residents, but this project is an important step toward realizing the county’s Innovation Zone vision, which will connect our world-class assets and downtowns together – such MacArthur Airport and the Ronkonkoma Hub – through transit-oriented development in order to build a better quality of life for our residents. In order to attract the best and brightest professionals, we must create an innovation economy and a world-class transportation hub. Double Track is an important step to achieve this goal,” Suffolk County Executive Bellone said.

 

“Anytime we can increase reliability, productivity and efficiency for our commuting public it is a step in the right direction. Kudos to the MTA and LIRR for taking this innovative and economically savvy step to increase rail service in this, the busiest hub of the LIRR,” Senator Phil Boyle said.

 

“This is a momentous occasion for Long Islanders and I am particularly appreciative the LIRR decided to hold this event at the Pond Road crossing because the community, Town of Islip and myself have been especially supportive of the LIRR elevating this crossing and we are pleased to hear that LIRR is considering this project as they begin an overall evaluation of all of their grade crossings. This project, as well as the Double Track Project, serves the interests of our residents well and we thank the LIRR for their support and hard work,” Senator Thomas Croci said.

 

“Today, as the first section of the second, long-awaited track is laid down, we celebrate a great milestone for the Ronkonkoma Branch of the Long Island Rail Road,” said Assemblyman Michael Montesano. “This additional track has been desperately needed for many years in order to enhance service for all travelers, from Ronkonkoma to Farmingdale. I have proudly supported the Double Track Project since its early introduction and am thrilled to see it through its fruition.”

 

Assemblyman Joseph Saladino said, "For the commuters of Long Island all upgrades and investments in our transportation system are extremely important. I appreciate the fact that the governor has recognized this and continues to help us push for the investments in our trains, railway stations and roads that will enhance the essential services Long Islanders deserve."

 

Kevin Law, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Long Island Association, said, “The Long Island Association strongly supports the LIRR’s Double Track Project and applauds Governor Cuomo’s efforts to ensure that the MTA’s 2015-2019 Capital Program is sufficiently funded to see the Double Track effort through to conclusion. Completing Double Track is crucial to the economic future of our region. Not only can we look forward to service improvements, but the second track is also key to the future development along the branch, including the construction of a new train station near Republic Airport in Farmingdale to serve the busy Route 110 business corridor and to spur interest in future transit oriented development there.”

 

On any given day, between 50 and 75 construction workers are laboring on the Double Track Project. By the time the job is done, the LIRR estimates Double Track will have injected close to $100 million into the Long Island economy and created as many as 1,000 new jobs.

 

Double Track is one of seven major LIRR construction projects subject to an innovative Project Labor Agreement with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The unions pitched in by signing an agreement that will result in an estimated direct labor savings of over $6 million or about 11% of the total labor cost of these capital projects. In addition to reducing costs, the pact provides opportunities for minorities and women to enter the trade union apprentice program and includes non-discrimination provisions in union hiring hall and job placement practices.

 

The LIRR selected the international design and engineering firms STV and AECOM to help plan and carry out the Double Track Project. AECOM and New York based-STV are leaders in the rail transportation industry. The contractors who have been preparing the new right of way for track installation and new retaining walls are Queens-based Skanska USA Civil, a leading civil engineering and infrastructure contractor, which teamed with Farmingdale-based Posillico, Inc. Posillico has served Long Island and the tri-state area since 1946.

 

More information about the Double Track Project can be found at www.mta.info/lirr.



#3 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 05 June 2016 - 08:26 AM

LIRR news release, 6/3:

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Award of Key Contracts in LIRR Double Track Project
Contracts Represent Major Step Forward in Push to Double Capacity of the Ronkonkoma Branch along 18 Mile Stretch Between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma

 

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that two design-build contracts have been awarded for work that will significantly advance the Long Island Rail Road’s Double Track project. When completed, the project will dramatically increase capacity of the Ronkonkoma Branch along 18 miles between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma. The addition of the second track will allow the LIRR to provide more frequent off-peak service to the Ronkonkoma Branch in both directions and will increase flexibility and reduce delays associated with service disruptions. Completion of the Double Track project is targeted for the end of 2018.

 

“This is a major step forward in our plan to modernize one of the Long Island Rail Road’s busiest lines,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Double Track project will increase the reliability of our mass transit system, improving the commute for thousands of Long Islanders and helping to facilitate future economic growth in the entire region.”

 

Contract For 7.4 miles of track between Farmingdale and Central Islip

The first contract awarded is to design and construct a total of 7.4 miles of track between Farmingdale and Central Islip. The contract has been awarded to Skanska-Posillico II Joint Venture, and is valued at up to $59.7 million. The joint venture will design and build 6.1 miles of trackbed between Farmingdale and Deer Park, and 1.3 miles of trackbed between Brentwood and Central Islip. Under the Design-Build Contract for Phase 1 previously approved by the MTA Board, the civil work is nearing completion on 5.2 miles of the second track between Ronkonkoma and west of Central Islip. As a result, the project will add a total of 12.6 miles of track to an existing 5.4 miles of track, creating an 18 mile-stretch of double track.

 

Signal System Contract

The second contract is to design and build a new signaling system that will use computer-based train control software to better coordinate train movement when the second track is activated. The contract has been awarded to Ansaldo STS USA, Inc., and is valued at $44.8 million. The work will include final design, fabrication, delivery and system integration, and testing of new components, including transmitters and 28 new wayside “huts,” and other infrastructure associated with new interlockings at Farmingdale, Wyandanch, Deer Park, and Central Islip, and a modified interlocking at Ronkonkoma.

 

Design-Build Contracts

At the direction of the Governor, the LIRR is using design-build contracts for both projects. Design-build contracts call for a single team of contractors to be responsible for both designing and building an entire project in order to ensure that coordination is seamless, and that work is completed in the shortest possible time frame.

 

MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast said, “By using design-build contracts, we can eliminate a host of delays. When one team handles both design and construction it eliminates the all-too-common disconnect between various phases of a project, and helps move the process along at a more rapid clip. That’s good for the LIRR, good for the contractors and, most of all, good for New Yorkers.”

 

President of the Long Island Association Kevin Law said, “Over the past five years, we’ve strengthened Long Island’s economy by focusing on what works – like investing in world-class infrastructure, attracting first-rate jobs and driving smart growth in communities from Montauk to Melville. This new Welcome Center will build on that progress, further boosting tourism and showcasing all that Long Island has to offer. I commend Governor Cuomo for his dedication to investing in this region’s infrastructure and strengthening our local economy.”

 

Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone said, “I commend Governor Cuomo and the Long Island Rail Road for their efforts to add a second track to the Ronkonkoma line. This project will not only make the commute more efficient for thousands of residents, but it will continue to spur economic growth, create jobs and bring more opportunity throughout the entire region. Today we reached another important milestone in the Double Track project and I look forward to seeing it progress and create a brighter future for the entire Long Island community.”

 

Construction work on the Double Track project is already in progress. By the time the entire project is completed, the LIRR estimates Double Track will have injected close to $100 million into the Long Island economy.

 

Double Track is one of seven major LIRR construction projects subject to an innovative Project Labor Agreement with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The unions signed an agreement that will result in an estimated direct labor savings of over $6 million or about 11 percent of the total labor cost of these capital projects. The pact also provides opportunities for minorities and women to enter the trade union apprentice program and includes non-discrimination provisions in union hiring and job placement practices.

 

Ridership on the LIRR’s Ronkonkoma Branch is more than 48,000 each weekday. With just one track along most of the 18-mile route between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, the LIRR can operate a limited number of trains and lacks operational flexibility in the event of a disruption. If one train becomes disabled, all other trains (east and west) have no way around the problem. The construction of the Double Track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma will also support Long Island-wide resiliency by enabling the LIRR to provide better Main Line Service options in conditions where either the Montauk Branch or Port Jefferson Branch is compromised because of severe weather.



#4 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 22 August 2016 - 06:44 PM

LIRR news release, 8/22:

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Completion of New Track Laying Between Central Islip and Ronkonkoma for LIRR Double Track
 
Entire Double Track – from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma – on Schedule to Open in 2018; Will Reduce Delays and Allow Riders to Travel in Both Directions During Off-Peak Times

 

At Governor's Direction, MTA Emphasizing Efficiency, Using Specialized Train to Lay Track 10x Faster than Before

 

Governor Cuomo Also Announces MTA eTix App Available for All LIRR and Metro-North Lines Starting Today

 

Expanding and Modernizing Commuter Rail is Key Component of Governor Cuomo's $100 Billion Infrastructure and Development Plan for New York

 

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the completion of new track laying between Central Islip and Ronkonkoma for the LIRR Double Track project, and work on the final phase between Farmingdale and Central Islip is already underway and on schedule to be completed in 2018. The Double Track, extending from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma, will dramatically reduce delays on the LIRR and enable more off peak service in both directions by adding 13 miles of parallel track. Together with the full MTA eTix rollout, the LIRR Third Track proposal on the Main Line, East Side Access, and four new Metro-North Stations in the Bronx, the milestone reached today moves the MTA's commuter rail priorities forward in the Governor's $100 billion Infrastructure and Development Plan for New York.

 

"New York State is moving aggressively to bring our mass transit systems into the 21st century -- not just to meet the needs of our current population, but to foster smart, sensible and sustainable growth," Governor Cuomo said. "Adding a second track to the Ronkonkoma Branch is a project has been talked about for decades, but was never set into motion. By pairing innovative equipment with our strategy of design-build construction, we are accelerating the pace of these types of critical infrastructure projects to improve Long Island commutes and strengthen the region's economy. Put simply, we are building today for a better tomorrow."

 

Governor Cuomo today toured the Double Track site in Central Islip with MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast, where the New Track Construction machine was laying the final stretch of Phase I track. The New Track Construction machine lays track more than ten times faster than the MTA has ever done before, saving $2.4 million in construction costs. Photos of the Governor at the construction site will be available on the Governor's Flikr page. Video of the tour and the machine, as well as this afternoon's Double Track press conference will follow.

 

MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said: "The Governor has challenged us to move more quickly and efficiently in all we do and to use new, innovative ideas to advance projects. With the use of this new track-laying technology, MTA will save $2.4 million in the first phase of Double Track alone and bring us a big step forward in reducing delays and providing better service on the Ronkonkoma Branch in both directions."

 

Completion of New Track Laying for Phase I

 

Ridership on the LIRR's Ronkonkoma Branch is more than 48,000 each weekday. With just one track along most of the 18-mile route between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma, the LIRR can operate only a limited number of trains and lacks operational flexibility in the event of a disruption. If one train becomes disabled, all other trains – coming from both east and west – have no way around the problem.

 

The Double Track project will enable the LIRR to provide more frequent off-peak service to the Ronkonkoma Branch in both directions, with off-peak service going from one train every hour, to one train every 30 minutes in both directions. The project will reduce delays associated with service disruptions by giving the railroad flexibility to go around obstacles that it cannot currently in single track territory.

 

Work for the Double Track project is being done in two phases using design-build contracting; funding for the project of $387.2 million has been secured in its entirety by Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature.

 

Phase I adds 3.5 miles of track between Central Islip and Ronkonkoma, and new track construction of this segment will be complete as early as today. Phase II work is already underway, which primarily focuses on building the remaining track between Farmingdale and Central Islip, as well as signal installation the entire Farmingdale to Ronkonkema distance. The MTA awarded design-build contracts for these components in June. In large part because design-build contracting holds private construction management firms accountable for achieving deadlines set by the MTA, the Double Track is on schedule to open as initially announced in 2018.

 

Using Specialized Machinery Laying Track 10x Faster

 

The Double Track project marks the MTA's first-ever use of the New Track Construction machine, which is capable of laying one mile of track per day – more than ten times faster than the 500 feet of track per day that the MTA manually laid previously. By speeding up this process, the MTA is significantly improving productivity, increasing safety and reducing the potential of construction disruption to local communities. Use of the machine reduces the cost of laying Phase I's 3.5 miles of track from more than $3.6 million to $1.2 million, saving approximately $2.4 million.

 

The machine is pulled from the front end by a bulldozer along the route of the new track. It automatically handles the flow of materials, negating the use of overhead cranes for track construction. The machine's ability to bring in supplies by rail negates the need for trucking supplies in. The MTA plans to use the machine in future projects in response to the Governor's challenge to increase efficiency in its projects.

In concert with the proposed Main Line Expansion Project, which would add a third track to the heavily utilized segment between Floral Park and Hicksville, the construction of the Double Track between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma will support Long Island-wide resiliency by enabling the LIRR to provide better Main Line Service options in conditions where either the Montauk Branch or Port Jefferson Branch is compromised because of severe weather.

 

In addition to the Double Track and the proposed LIRR Expansion Project, the railroad is also moving forward with other projects that will help improve railroad operations, including the Jamaica Capacity Improvement Project which streamlines the Jamaica track layout and modernizes the switch and signal system; the expansion of the train storage yard in Ronkonkoma and the addition of pocket tracks along the Port Washington and Babylon Branches.

 

Launching MTA eTix Mobile Ticketing Across Entire System

 

Governor Cuomo also announced today's full, system-wide implementation of MTA eTix, the new mobile ticketing app that allows Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road customers to use their smartphone as a boarding ticket.

 

MTA eTix empowers LIRR and Metro-North customers to board using their smartphone instead of a paper ticket, as well as check schedules and see train service status, which interconnects with the popular Train Time apps for Metro-North and the LIRR. The app also offers account management tools, giving railroad customers the ability to secure refunds for unused mobile tickets, request duplicate receipts, and manage profile info such as password and linked credit card numbers. And for customers who use pre-tax commuter benefit programs, the app allows users to split their purchases between a pre-tax benefit card and another card. More information about the app is available at http://www.mta.info/mta-eTix-

 

Download links for smartphones are below.

Today's addition of the New Haven Line's three branches and the rest of the LIRR marks the third and final phase of the rollout. MTA eTix first became available on Metro-North’s Hudson Line and the LIRR’s Port Washington Branch on June 30, and on July 25 the app debuted on Metro-North’s Harlem Line.

 

MTA eTix is a central component of the MTA improving the customer experience, complementing a deep integration of technology across the board. The MTA's record $27 billion Capital Program secured under the leadership of Governor Cuomo supports the addition of 2,340 buses and 1,025 redesigned subway cars with USB charging ports plus Wi-Fi; full cell phone connectivity, Wi-Fi and countdown clocks in every subway station; 31 reimagined subway stations that also include USB charging ports and enhanced digital information hubs inside and outside of the station; and an accelerated plan to create a new fare payment system to replace the MetroCard.



#5 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 22 August 2016 - 09:01 PM

MTA video  (time lapse)  LIRR Double Track Project: New Track Construction Machine

 

Harsco vidéo:  Railways Track Construction Machine



#6 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 30 November 2020 - 08:53 PM

Progressive Railroading, 11/30/20

 
LIRR wraps up rail storage yard construction

 


PR1120-LIRR-MidSuffolk-Yard.png
The newly expanded Mid-Suffolk yard will provide additional space to store, maintain, inspect, service and clean electric train cars. Photo – LIRR
 

The MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) last week announced it has completed major construction on the Mid-Suffolk Train Storage Yard in Ronkonkoma, New York. 

 

Formerly known as the Ronkonkoma Yard, the newly expanded yard will provide additional space to store, maintain, inspect, service and clean electric train cars, LIRR officials said in a press release.

The $76.6 million project included the addition of 11 tracks. The yard now features a total of 22 tracks, each with the capacity for a 12-car trainset.

 

Continue here.



#7 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 30 November 2020 - 08:58 PM

LIRR news release 11/27/20

 
Completed Construction on Mid-Suffolk Yard Helps Increase Future Capacity
Storage Facility Expansion Will Support Rail Service for East Side Access
 

 

MTA Construction & Development (C&D) and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have completed major construction on the Mid-Suffolk Train Storage Yard in Ronkonkoma. The project will increase future capacity and reliability for the railroad as part of LIRR Expansion.

 

“The expanded train yard, along with the Third Track project, grade crossing eliminations and East Side Access, are all major investments advancing rapidly -- and safely -- during the pandemic, and they will all contribute to more flexible and reliable railroad service,” said Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development. “We are completing these projects faster than ever before -- but the reality is we need help from the federal government to ensure our safety and modernization projects like this one can continue.”

 

“Our workforce continues to deliver on our commitment to improve service and reliability for today while we keep an eye on the future. This facility is an example of how LIRR is a driver of long-term economic sustainability and growth,” said Phil Eng, President of Long Island Rail Road. “I thank the entire team for their heroic efforts during these unprecedented times.”

 

Formerly known as the Ronkonkoma Yard, the newly expanded Mid-Suffolk Yard will provide additional space to store, maintain, inspect, service and clean electric train cars. With COVID-19 still a serious health issue, cleaning of trains has become vital in combating the disease. The yard features 11 additional tracks for a total of 22, each with capacity for a 12-car train set.

 

The Mid-Suffolk yard will enable an increase in service on the Ronkonkoma Branch during the morning rush by nearly 50 percent when East Side Access opens under Grand Central Terminal at the end of 2022. A new employee facility is now in use at the yard.

 

Work on the site began July 2018 with land-clearing to make way for the new two-story 15,900-square foot employee facility, new material storage facility to the southeast of the employee facility with a new materials lay-down area located to its west.

 

A new traction power substation, G37 powers train operations at the yard.  The mega-substation was built to replace the existing G36 substation at the eastern end of the yard, which was just about at the end of its useful life. 50-foot green barrier of pine trees remain between the rail yard and public spaces.

 

The expanded facility is open 24 hours per day and will ultimately make travel between Long Island and New York City more reliable and comfortable for LIRR customers. For more information about this project and other LIRR modernization, visit https://www.amodernli.com/.

 






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users