Zion Contracting served as the General Contractor for the extensive rehabilitation of the Morris Park Train Yard, a critical 21-acre (8.5 ha) maintenance facility for the Long Island Rail Road, located in Queens, New York City. This strategically important facility includes a locomotive shed and sidings dedicated to the maintenance and storage of both diesel and diesel-electric locomotives, supporting essential rail operations throughout the network. The primary objective of this contract was to execute vital pre-construction activities to prepare the Morris Park Yard for the future construction of a state-of-the-art overhaul facility, positioning it to handle the next generation of rail maintenance demands.

The scope of work under this contract encompassed a range of complex site preparation and infrastructure upgrades. Roadway access was expanded and paved to support increased traffic, and precise striping was applied to the new parking areas to improve vehicle organization and safety. Trailers on-site were removed to clear designated work zones, and new, durable fencing and automated gates were installed to enhance perimeter security and controlled access. The project also required specialized environmental work, including the careful removal and disposal of asbestos-contaminated and other hazardous soils, following stringent safety protocols to protect workers and surrounding areas. Additional facility upgrades included installing a heavy-duty roll-up door on the existing storage shed to streamline equipment access, dismantling outdated bone yard tracks, relocating bumper blocks, and removing obsolete industrial equipment. These pre-construction activities required meticulous planning and coordination, ensuring that the yard would be optimally prepared for the forthcoming overhaul facility while maintaining continuity of ongoing yard operations.

Dates
Award Letter was issued on January 5, 2017
Construction end date April 30, 2018

Owner
MTA Long Island Railroad
Contract #: 6246