Railroad Forums
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Arlington wrote:Since Amtrak expects to run half-hourly HSR on the WAS-NYP side (versus only hourly on the NYP-BOS side) It would seem that Washington's "half hour" HSR service could turn at a stub end too.Well unless they string catenary beyond DC, there's no point in turning it elsewhere. Whereas right now, a number of them run-through NYP to BOS.
Adirondacker wrote:I can think of four or five major real estate developers hereabouts who would probably jump at the chance to partner with Amtrak and put up said billions in exchange for the opportunity to build a full-block mixed office and retail development on top of a future Penn Station South given the foot traffic it is likely to generate. My guess is that someone at Amtrak has probably thought of this, too, and has had a few quiet, private conversations. Full blocks in Midtown do not come around that often-- and the railroad, unlike anyone else, would presumably have the ability to use eminent domain to flush out any minor holdouts in assembling the parcel...Woody wrote: Two or three veryThe Port Authority had a very tired old office building, one that took up a whole block, which they sold for a billion a few years ago. Yes a billion with a B. Even tired old office buildings in Manhattan aren't cheap. And neither are parking garages when they they can rent parking spaces at the rates they get in Manhattan.
tired office buildings.
Ridgefielder wrote:Adirondacker wrote:I can think of four or five major real estate developers hereabouts who would probably jump at the chance to partner with Amtrak and put up said billions in exchange for the opportunity to build a full-block mixed office and retail development on top of a future Penn Station South given the foot traffic it is likely to generate. My guess is that someone at Amtrak has probably thought of this, too, and has had a few quiet, private conversations. Full blocks in Midtown do not come around that often-- and the railroad, unlike anyone else, would presumably have the ability to use eminent domain to flush out any minor holdouts in assembling the parcel...Woody wrote: Two or three veryThe Port Authority had a very tired old office building, one that took up a whole block, which they sold for a billion a few years ago. Yes a billion with a B. Even tired old office buildings in Manhattan aren't cheap. And neither are parking garages when they they can rent parking spaces at the rates they get in Manhattan.
tired office buildings.
Thomas wrote:1. What is the current depth of Amtrak's North River Tunnels (or Hudson Tunnels)?1. about 80-100 feet below the water.
2. Amtrak claims that a "System Design Study" is currently ongoing for the Gateway Project. How does this relate to preliminary engineering?
25Hz wrote:Right. There was $15M in funding committed--cobbled together in a package of related things--to advance the studies. The tunnel-proper gets crowded out for planning resources by stuff like the Portal Bridge, Moynihan Station, and all kinds of other NEC business in the area, but it's at least got an official toehold from Congress to do some formal scoping. Whether the money keeps coming to meaningfully advance those studies past the starting point is anyone's guess, but it is a real ongoing effort.Thomas wrote:1. What is the current depth of Amtrak's North River Tunnels (or Hudson Tunnels)?1. about 80-100 feet below the water.
2. Amtrak claims that a "System Design Study" is currently ongoing for the Gateway Project. How does this relate to preliminary engineering?
2. This means they are moving toward a finalized design that will work in the real world & be what we ultimately see being built, basically a step past conceptual stage. They may be using simulators to see how train movements will be or how the internally proposed designs deal with fire or other situations etc.
That last bit is important, because lots of projects die or are hugely delayed in the concept phase.
Thomas wrote:1. There was $15 million committed for Gateway Studies in November 2011, and another $20 million was given to Amtrak in April 2012. I also read that Amtrak received $14 million to continue studying the Gateway Project recently--I think in March. I just wonder that, together with three years of funding--on top of some of the studies from ARC that can be incorporated into Gateway--it will be until major construction segments get built. What is the chance that the Gateway Project is completed by 2025?The $14 million for Gateway in FY2013 sounds about right. Most of the transportation appropriations amounts for FY2013 were carried directly over from the FY2012 amounts minus the sequestration percentage. The Senate ended up handling the FY13 transportation appropriations as a continuing resolution of the FY2012 appropriations to block the House Republicans transportation bills. Amtrak got $15 million for Gateway studies in FY2012, so they get $14 million and change for FY2013. Which gives them $29 million for Gateway studies so far.
Ridgefielder wrote: I can think of four or five major real estate developers hereabouts who would probably jump at the chance to partner with Amtrak and put up said billions in exchange for the opportunity to build a full-block mixed office and retail development on top of a future Penn Station South given the foot traffic it is likely to generate. My guess is that someone at Amtrak has probably thought of this, too, and has had a few quiet, private conversations. Full blocks in Midtown do not come around that often-- and the railroad, unlike anyone else, would presumably have the ability to use eminent domain to flush out any minor holdouts in assembling the parcel...Like Vornado was going to do with the Hotel Pennsylvania? On a property they bought in 1997 and that has probably been at least breaking even for them since? How much did the developer pay to build over the West SIde Yards? Which have a lot less foot traffic than across the street from Penn Station.
Adirondacker wrote:Hotel pennsylvania was going to be demolished for a 1000 foot glass box. That plan was terminated, and the hotel will get a lot of TLC in the form of extensive renovations and modernizations over the next 10-15 years, this includes asbestos abatement, roof repairs, wiring and plumbing, basically a "state of good repair" overhaul.Ridgefielder wrote: I can think of four or five major real estate developers hereabouts who would probably jump at the chance to partner with Amtrak and put up said billions in exchange for the opportunity to build a full-block mixed office and retail development on top of a future Penn Station South given the foot traffic it is likely to generate. My guess is that someone at Amtrak has probably thought of this, too, and has had a few quiet, private conversations. Full blocks in Midtown do not come around that often-- and the railroad, unlike anyone else, would presumably have the ability to use eminent domain to flush out any minor holdouts in assembling the parcel...Like Vornado was going to do with the Hotel Pennsylvania? On a property they bought in 1997 and that has probably been at least breaking even for them since? How much did the developer pay to build over the West SIde Yards? Which have a lot less foot traffic than across the street from Penn Station.
