During Climate Week, Governor Hochul Announces Design Award for Major Resilience Project to Protect Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line from Effects of Climate Change

During NYC Climate Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) awarded a $19.7 million contract for the design phase of a major project to protect vulnerable portions of the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line from the effects of climate change and fortify the line against future stormwater runoff, tidal floods and other risks between Spuyten Duyvil to Hastings-on-Hudson. This milestone is a major step forward in a flagship $800 million resiliency effort to fortify the Hudson Line in the MTA's 2025-2029 Capital Plan.

"The impacts of climate change and extreme weather put the commutes of millions of riders who rely on the Hudson Line each year at risk," Governor Hochul said. "That's why we're making historic investments to ensure the long-term resilience of this vital rail corridor, fortifying it for the long term and ensuring that service is more reliable than ever before."

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, "As I always say, mass transit is the antidote to climate change - but we need to deal with the accelerating impacts it is already having on our system. This project takes a comprehensive approach towards protecting essential Metro-North service for decades to come."

MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres Springer said, "Millions of New Yorkers rely on the Hudson Line every year, but the future of the line depends on us taking action now. This design award marks a major milestone in our effort to protect our system from the effects of climate change and to safeguard the reliable transit service our region depends on."

MTA Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek said: "We have a responsibility to protect this corridor and the people who depend on it every day. We are meeting that responsibility through careful planning, sustained investment, and a series of projects designed to strengthen and safeguard the Hudson Line for the long term."

The $270 million project is targeting assets that manage water flow and drainage, stabilize the right of way, and are in poor condition along a segment of the lower Hudson that is highly vulnerable to extreme weather. Work includes the fortification of retaining walls and slopes, expansion of culverts and drainage along slopes and track, shoreline structure rehabilitation, as well as flood protection measures for tracks where possible. This project will also develop a resilient design blueprint to guide future investments along the entirety of the line. This work is a clear example of how the MTA is taking a bold, forward-looking approach to tackle the impacts of climate change, and addresses climate vulnerability findings from the2024 MTA Climate Resilience Roadmap, as well as state of good repair findings from the2025-2044 Twenty-Year Needs Assessment.

The design phase of the project will be a joint venture between STV and WSP. Construction is expected to begin in 2029.

Located right on banks of the Hudson River, Metro-North's Hudson Line is vulnerable to flooding from stormwater run-off during extreme rain and coastal flooding - both of which are heightened by climate change. The segment between Spuyten Duyvil and Hastings-on-Hudson has experienced numerous recent floods and mudslides given its unique location between the Hudson River on the west and several steep slopes on the east, causing service disruptions on a portion of the line used by 25,000 Metro-North riders each weekday, along with Amtrak and freight rail.

The project is part of a broader effort to fortify the Hudson line. After Superstorm Sandy, the MTA completed more than $400 million of work to make the Hudson Line more resilient by improving power, communications, and signals systems along a 30-mile portion of the line from the Bronx to Croton-Harmon. The MTA is also in the midst of implementing a project to stabilize vulnerable, steep slopes and improve stormwater infrastructure on a portion of the Hudson Line between Glenwood and Greystone station, thanks to $20 million in the FY 2025 state budget from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. This project is currently in design.

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "This investment in the Hudson Line is a crucial step in safeguarding our commuter network and protecting the communities that rely on it and builds on the previous funding I helped secure for this critical line. By strengthening our infrastructure, we are addressing residents' immediate concerns and ensuring a long-term, resilient foundation for future generations. I want to thank the Governor, my colleagues in the Legislature, the MTA and the many residents that live along this line that advocated for this funding."

Village of Hastings-on-Hudson Mayor Thomas Drake said, "On behalf of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, I thank Governor Hochul for moving this critical project forward. The $19.7 million design award is an important step in protecting the Hudson Line from stormwater runoff, tidal flooding and extreme weather. The planned improvements to drainage, slopes, retaining walls and shoreline structures will strengthen this vital rail corridor and help protect reliable service for the thousands of riders who depend on it every day. We appreciate the Governor's leadership and partnership in building a more resilient Hudson Valley."