Sustainability Spotlight: Hudson Tunnel Project
The Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP) is an ongoing initiative to create resiliency and reliability on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) rail line, which connects New York City to New Jersey and the megaregion from Washington, DC to Boston. As the nation’s busiest passenger rail line, the NEC is critical to the country’s economic security, making the HTP one of the most urgent infrastructure programs in the United States today.
The $16 billion program — supported by $12 billion in federal funding — will construct a new, two-track rail tunnel for Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains, significantly reducing travel delays and increasing reliability along the NEC. This new tunnel will supplement service provided by the existing North River Tunnel, which will also undergo rehabilitation as part of the program. The new tunnel will be in service by 2035, at which point the North River Tunnel can be taken out of service one tube at a time for top-to-bottom rehabilitation. The full HTP is slated for completion by 2038, and its construction is estimated to create nearly 100,000 new jobs and generate over $19 billion in economic activity.
Infrastructure designed to last
A key focus of this landmark project is creating infrastructure that is both resilient and sustainable, ensuring reliable service for generations to come. The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) — the Project Sponsor for the HTP — is setting a new benchmark for how large-scale projects can lead in both resiliency and sustainability.
The Gateway Trans Hudson Partnership (GTHP), a consortium including AECOM, has been a key support for GDC in helping to deliver the HTP. AECOM is playing a pivotal role in designing a tunnel system capable of withstanding the growing risks posed by climate change, including storm surges and flooding. These issues have previously plagued the North River Tunnel, which sustained significant damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, contributing to the need for the new tunnels.
The HTP incorporates advanced flood protection, elevated designs and enhanced drainage systems to mitigate potential damage. AECOM has also participated in strategic planning efforts for future adaptability, verifying that project teams will be prepared to respond to any unforeseen challenges moving forward.
Advancing the practice of sustainable infrastructure
We have established a dedicated core sustainability team of subject matter experts to ensure compliance with best sustainability practices across the entire program. Our project team has opted to pursue ambitious sustainability targets aligned with the Envision framework, a robust system developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) for evaluating the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure projects.
Envision assesses projects across categories such as Quality of Life, Resource Allocation, Climate and Resilience. The HTP integrates sustainability considerations into every phase of its project packages. Some of the key sustainability goals include:
- Minimizing construction and operational energy usage
- Cutting greenhouse gas emissions
- Protecting historic resources
- Maximizing resilience
With the scale and complexity of the HTP, available management tools are limited in their capacity to track and surface critical information across stages of design and construction. The sustainability team developed a fit-to-purpose tool that facilitates target-setting and tracking (including documentation) between Envision criteria and the ongoing design process. Through the tool, visibility into progress and next steps can be maintained collaboratively across multiple teams and work packages. While developed for the HTP specifically, the tool is designed with generality in mind, to be useful for future Envision efforts — accelerating AECOM’s capacity to deliver this increasingly-sought service.
Leveraging digital platforms for collaborative meetings
To introduce the project’s sustainability goals to the various design teams involved, we conducted sustainability meetings that blended in-person huddles with digital tools to encourage active participation. This approach fostered dynamic, multidisciplinary collaboration, enabling us to visually map sustainability goals, provide an overview of Envision’s verification pathways, and facilitate understanding of sustainability targets and opportunities for alignment across teams. These sessions enhanced collaboration and streamlined sustainability coordination and implementation across disciplines. The meetings were instrumental in embedding sustainability into project decision making and design, ensuring the pursuit of ambitious targets while addressing the complexity and scale of the HTP.
The sustainability team used Mural, a digital whiteboard app, to collaborate and share information across disciplines including Architectural, Mechanical and Environmental + Permitting.
Continual co-benefits from sustainability initiatives
In addition to the big-tent stakeholder benefits promoted through the sustainability agenda, tangible benefits to operations and asset management can accrue from sustainability initiatives. To describe the project’s overall energy and carbon impact, a comprehensive life-cycle energy model is in development. It will account for all major components of the project (rolling stock, ventilation, emergency power, buildings, signals and communication) as it is expected to operate. This model forms a crucial component of a future digital twin, which, if sustained throughout the project or integrated into broader NEC management, could enable real-time operations, forecasting, planning and system-wide optimization — delivering long-term value while supporting sustainability.
Future-proofing the HTP
At its core, this project is an environmentally friendly initiative because rail transit is inherently sustainable. By reducing dependency on single-occupancy vehicles, the HTP helps alleviate vehicular congestion and fosters more livable, connected communities. It is estimated that the HTP will eliminate more than 2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.
Under GDC’s direction, the GTHP and AECOM are helping to lead the charge on sustainability and resiliency efforts. Through a holistic approach, our teams are safeguarding the environment while ensuring the long-term functionality and benefits of the HTP for surrounding communities.
Links for more information:
GDC’s Sustainability Management Plan
HTP Overview