New Flood Resilient Substation at Henderson Street

• Client: NJ Transit
• Location: Hoboken, NJ

Project Overview

As the primary consultant, we provided construction management services directly for NJ Transit for the construction of a new dual feeder substation, rated at 26.4 KV, and the installation of three diesel-powered 1000kW generators. This project is located at the former site of the Boiler House, adjacent to the Pullman Rail Yard.

The impetus for this project stemmed from the catastrophic effects of Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, which resulted in severe flooding at the Hoboken Terminal and Yard, causing extensive damage to NJ Transit’s infrastructure. The storm surge reached record levels, exceeding normal sea levels by 9 to 11 feet, inundating large portions of the Yard, including areas as far west as Marin Boulevard. The Terminal Building and Yard equipment suffered such significant damage that it disrupted railroad operations for weeks, with normal service taking months to be fully restored.

The existing substation, crucial for electrical operations, was also severely affected by the storm, with damage to electrical transformers, switchgear, cabling, and control and monitoring systems. The corrosive impact of saltwater exposure on electrical components was particularly destructive, resulting in the permanent damage of numerous devices. In response, NJ Transit initiated a design-bid-build contract for the construction of a new single-story building, spanning approximately 15,000 square feet, along with equipment fit-out.