Long Island Rail Road Expansion Opens in New York

A major expansion to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)’s Main Line is now open to the public. Joint Venture (JV) partners Arup and Jacobs delivered the project on schedule and on budget.

Extending from Floral Park to Hicksville, New York, the 9.8-mile third track expansion to the LIRR Main Line increases capacity by 50%, alleviates congestion during peak hours, improves overall rail services and enhances rider safety.

Arup Jacobs JV served as the project management consultant for Metropolitan Transportation Authority Construction and Development (MTA C&D) on this $2.6B project. The JV team provided comprehensive project management oversight that includes commercial, risk, public outreach, rail operations and digital information management. The team also provided compliance oversight of design, construction, quality, safety and security.

“Delivering large, transformational infrastructure programs like the LIRR extension is core to Jacobs’ business,” Jacobs People & Places Solutions Senior Vice President Gary Morris said. “Our development of a digital dashboard and comprehensive project management plan was key to facilitating the program’s success and Jacobs’ commitment to creating a more connected, sustainable world.”

“It was essential to deliver results on time and on budget for this major transit corridor vital for commuters. Our oversight and team coordination were enhanced by developing and using digital tools that provided a single source of information for effective team collaboration,” Arup Project Director and Americas Rail Leader Peter Guest said of the project. “We are proud to support the MTA in achieving this pivotal milestone that will have a lasting impact on regional transit with increased capacity and passenger satisfaction.”

The project includes upgrades of all rail infrastructure and systems across the nearly 10-mile corridor, the elimination of eight street-level rail crossings, reconstruction of seven railroad bridges, construction of two parking garages and the reconstruction of five LIRR train stations.

The LIRR Expansion Project is a major part of an unprecedented multi-billion-dollar investment across 100 projects that will transform and modernize the Long Island Rail Road. The 120-mile LIRR Main Line extends from Montauk on Long Island to Penn Station in Manhattan and is the busiest commuter rail line in the country.