SYSTRA understands that the success of our work not only depends upon providing excellence in engineering services, but also work that is well managed. That understanding is evidenced by our corporate commitment to quality assurance and the experience and record of our program managers.
SYSTRA provides program management expertise to rail and transit agencies to assist in their efforts to manage large, multi-discipline projects, thus enabling these projects to be delivered on time and within budget. Our program managers develop program budgets; program schedules; administer contracts; identify risks; negotiate, process, and administrate change orders and payment administration; oversee and manage the design and construction process to ensure that the proposed project meets the owner’s requirements. SYSTRA’s experts also review the details, set objectives for the team, plan and prioritize assignments, and identify and resolve problems.
Our program management team ensures successful project execution by implementing clearly defined and organized management plans. SYSTRA believes communication to be an essential element of any successful project. Our program managers maintain interaction with clients and all stakeholders . SYSTRA’s program management professionals improve the timing, cost, and quality of all projects.
Representative Projects:
MTA LIRR East Side Access/Grand Central Station Connection Project
New York, New York
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Long Island Rail Road (MTA/LIRR) East Side Access (Grand Central Connection) project will connect the LIRR with Grand Central Terminal (GCT) in Manhattan. This is the largest construction project ever undertaken by the MTA. The overall project budget is $3.23 billion (inflated dollars), which includes $2.3 billion for cost of construction.
To relieve capacity congestion at Penn Station New York (PSNY) and provide MTA/LIRR passengers with direct access to East Midtown Manhattan, the ESA/GCC project will provide a new service into GCT. It will connect the Port Washington Branch and Main Line tracks within the Harold Interlocking in Queens through the lower level of the 63rd Street Tunnel and then to the GCT by way of a new tunnel extending from a rock face at Manhattan’s Second Avenue. The project also includes a new rail station (Sunnyside Station) near Sunnyside Yard in Long Island City, Queens. SYSTRA is part of the program management team.
Through SYSTRA’s work on the Queens Area contracts, including Harold Interlocking, the team provides leadership and design direction on the Arch Street Shop and Yard Contract. This contract includes a shop facility, a 60,000-square-foot rail maintenance of equipment facility for extraordinary interior cleaning platform, and engineering support facilities. SYSTRA is also contributing and facilitating the development of the LIRR/ESA design criteria. The team’s work extends to include design oversight for the Mid-Day Storage Yard to provide for the storage, servicing, inspection, and washing of MTA/LIRR electric trains, with sufficient storage and running tracks to accommodate 264 railcars.
SYSTRA is also responsible for rail operations and systems integration. SYSTRA has used network simulation models of the LIRR and Metro-North systems and proposed ESA line to simulate railroad operations during and after construction of the ESA Project. NYCT, Amtrak, and NJ TRANSIT operations already contained in existing SYSTRA network simulation models were used. SYSTRA performed a complete railroad operations analysis of the proposed construction staging plan.
SYSTRA has established that all new LIRR, Metro-North, NYCT, Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, and NYAR systems required or modified as part of the ESA project, including track, signals and communications, traction power, and maintenance facilities would work together to form a complete operating railroad. The systems integration effort influenced much of the engineering work to be performed by the design consultants, as well as the construction planning for activities that may impact railroad operations.
SYSTRA took over the role of program manager/construction manager for all of the Amtrak force account work at Harold Interlocking. This includes track relocation, installation of switches, signals systems, catenary, and communications work.
Systems Integration
Trackwork
Signals
Traction Power
Operations Analysis