The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has approved a design-build contract for the Penn Station Access Project.
The project will provide direct Metro-North service from the Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut to Penn Station and Manhattan’s west side. Officials say it will drastically reduce travel times for people who live and work in the East Bronx, an area currently without any rail service.
“Improved service on our rail system, with an eye on the future, means a transportation system that works for everyone when it comes to quality of life and economic development for residents and businesses in Connecticut and New York,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said in a news release.
The contract will be awarded to Halmar International, LLC/RailWorks, J.V.
The $2.87 billion project is expected to take 63 months to complete and will bring the Hell Gate Line on the Northeast Corridor into a state of good repair and improve reliability and on-time performance for intercity passengers. It will also prepare the corridor for high speed rail in the future.
Amtrak will contribute $500 million toward the project.
