The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) has agreed to support the establishment and maintenance of a tunnel rescue team for the Hudson Tunnel Project.
GDC will provide funding to fire departments in the communities where tunnel boring will take place to support training in the unique aspects of tunnel rescue. The investment will ensure the departments are prepared to respond to a tunnel-related emergency while maintaining capacity for other emergencies.
Sixty to 80 North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue firefighters will receive tunnel rescue training and up to 60 first responders from other Northern Region Urban Area Security Initiative Metro Urban Search and Rescue Strike Team member fire departments will undertake training to provide support if needed during an incident.
Spec Rescue International and the National Tunnel Institute will lead the training at The Bunker, a specialised technical rescue training facility in Hudson County. A model of a tunnel section will be installed so teams can practise in conditions they would face in a real emergency.
“The Hudson Tunnel Project is the most urgent passenger rail infrastructure project in the country. The only thing more important than getting this project done as soon as possible is making sure the hundreds of workers building the new tunnel get home safely at the end of each shift,” GDC commissioners said.
GDC CEO Tom Prendergast said the organisation took its responsibility to keep workers safe extremely seriously.
“The tunnel boring machines we are using include extensive systems to protect the people working underground and the communities above, but we still have to prepare for emergency scenarios,” he said.
The GDC awarded the Hudson River Tunnel construction contract to Traylor/Walsh/Skanska JV in April.
The GDC also confirmed Jeff Bernstein’s appointment as chief financial officer.
Bernstein joins GDC from Deloitte, where he advises clients in transport and infrastructure. He previously held leadership roles at NJ TRANSIT and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
