The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is undertaking a multi-billion-dollar, multi-phase modernization of the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers to meet new regulatory standards, enhance community safety, and ensure reliable water supply for NYC and Yonkers. The project includes infrastructure modernization, replacement of chemical addition facilities, sustainability improvements, and construction of new roadways and facilities. The first phase, valued at $848 million, began in August 2024 with completion expected in 2030.

The W 28th Substation Upgrades project addresses the challenge of retrofitting a century-old subway system with modern signaling technology along the Eighth Avenue line (A, C, E trains) between 59th Street in Manhattan and High Street in Brooklyn—one of the city’s busiest subway corridors. A new underground power substation will be constructed on West 28th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues to support the communications-based train control (CBTC) system scheduled for completion in 2025. This infrastructure upgrade will benefit over 250,000 daily commuters using this section, including four of the city’s busiest stations, with improved service reliability and fewer delays throughout the A, C, and E lines.

NERIS provided environmental and arboricultural services for both projects. At Hillview Reservoir, NERIS field-verified tree survey data from 2013 and 2022, documented all trees, assessed condition changes, and identified trees for protection or removal based on design plans and circulation requirements. For the W 28th Substation project, NERIS served as Arborist Representative during construction, monitoring excavation within critical root zones of protected street trees, identifying protected species, collecting measurements, and guiding the General Contractor on minimizing tree damage during construction.