PURPOSE AND NEED
Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Portal Bridge began operation in 1910 with direct service between Newark Pennsylvania Station and the newly constructed Pennsylvania Station in New York City. Today, four of NJ TRANSIT’s rail lines (393 trains each weekday in both directions) utilize the Portal Bridge. Amtrak operates 103 scheduled trains in both directions over this segment of the Northeast Corridor (see Scoping Document).
The century-old structure is nearing the end of its economic life and has insufficient capacity to accommodate future transportation needs. In addition to heavy usage by NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak, the Hackensack River crossing must also be opened to allow most marine traffic to pass.
The problems that arise with the existing bridge are:
- Mechanical: The hardware (miter rails) is prone to maladjustment and is negatively affected by temperature changes. This affects the reliability of the bridge to open and close in a timely fashion and causes delays throughout the Northeast Corridor system.
- Operational: Due to the mechanical nature of the bridge, trains are forced to travel along this segment of track at a speed of 60 miles per hour (mph), significantly slower than on adjacent sections that permit speeds of up to 90 mph.
- Maintenance: Because of the structural and operational limitations, there are few available opportunities for routine maintenance and inspection. As traffic along the Northeast Corridor increases, there will be even fewer suitable time periods to maintain the existing bridge.
The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) projects the population of northern New Jersey will grow more than 16 percent by 2025, to 7.6 million people. Both NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak require a modernized structure that will support capacity for current service and enable the agencies to meet future transportation demands. The EIS for the Portal Bridge Capacity Enhancement Project will evaluate alternatives and any significant social, economic, and environmental effects.
