Mitigation Actions Title
Protection of NYCDOT tunnels in Lower Manhattan (Floodproofing of Battery Park Underpass + West Street Underpass)
Mitigation Actions Description
Install permanent structures to mitigate against future flooding of the tunnels and damage to its electrical and mechanical systems.
Description Problem
Battery Park Underpass and West Street Underpass were flooded during Hurricane Sandy, requiring extensive repair work. These underpasses are critical infrastructure that require a permanent solution to the risk of future flooding.
Lead Agency
New York City Department of Transportation
Action Category
Property Protection
Action Status
In-Progress
Action Status Date
2023-12-15T00:00:00.000
Hazards Addressed
Flooding
Estimated Start
2024-05-27T00:00:00.000
Estimated Cost
$76,000,000.00
Federal Funding Source
FHWA
City Funding Source
City Capital
Description Of Social Vulnerability Addressed
The Underpasses connect vital transportation routes throughout the city, which in turn provide multitudes of communities with the goods, services, and basic necessity of movement required to function. The stability (and in turn, vulnerability) of these social networks depends directly on their ability to maintain access via their transportation networks, thus safeguarding transit routes such as the Underpasses also safeguards society. The hardening of the Underpasses (floodproof barriers, elevation of entry points, etc.) protects access and minimizes vulnerability for community members, increases community resilience, preserves safe evacuation routes, and mitigates strain and congestion that would be put on other routes if the Underpasses were to become unusable.
Description Of Critical Facility
The underpasses are critical infrastructure that help to facilitate the flow of traffic in and around lower Manhattan. Protecting these underpasses by mitigating physical damage against the structures will decrease future repair costs, enhance the long-term resilience (avoid accelerated aging) of the structure, and other issues (traffic needing to be diverted around damage or subsequent repair work, etc.) that would result if left unprotected during severe flooding events.
Administrative Technical Capability
NYC Waterfront Inspection Program (and Guideline Manual),NYC Waterfront Revitalization Program (WRP),NYC Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP),NYC Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines,DHSES (NYS) Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP),FEMA Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS),FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),NYMTC Regional Tranportation Plan - Resilience Improvement Plan (addendum).,NYC Waterfront Inspection Program (and Guideline Manual),NYC Waterfront Revitalization Program (WRP),NYC Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP),NYC Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines,DHSES (NYS) Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP),FEMA Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS),FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP),NYMTC Regional Tranportation Plan - Resilience Improvement Plan (addendum).,NYC Waterfront Inspection Program (and Guideline Manual); NYC Waterfront Revitalization Program (WRP); NYC Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP); NYC Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines; DHSES (NYS) Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP); FEMA Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS); FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); NYMTC Regional Tranportation Plan - Resilience Improvement Plan (addendum).
Financial Capability
Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief
Notes
NYCDOT has purchased and tested inflatable water dams to protect the Battery and West Street Underpasses in Lower Manhattan in case of flood risk. The current contract anticipated to begin next year will install flood protection gates and measures for the ventilation shafts.
