MTA learns from Superstorm Sandy, begins upgrades on Hudson rail line

The Hudson commuter rail line, running from New York City to Poughkeepsie, New York, stands to benefit from a recent $20.8 million grant to combat future storm-surge flooding.

The line, part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad (MNR), had its power, communication and signaling systems disrupted when Superstorm Sandy submerged nearly half the railway in saltwater in 2012.

"The most important part of this work is keeping our sensitive electrical equipment high and dry in the event of another storm surge," Aaron Donovan, MTA’s deputy director of external communications, said.

The grant, in addition to nearly $7 million in MTA money, will be used to build 92 elevated steel-equipment platforms running alongside 30 miles of the track in Westchester County, as well as implement perimeter protection, reinforcement of substations and train-yard structures, waterproofing, and installation of video and electronic monitoring technology.

“This is not a project to repair infrastructure that was damaged during the storm,” Donovan said. “It is a project to elevate our infrastructure so it isn’t damaged if a future storm should come through our region.”

Preliminary work on the project is already underway through a partnership with Judlau and TC Electric, with the work expected to take four years to complete.