The meeting was notable for the absence of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a major stakeholder in the proposed project to build a second tunnel, add track capacity and expand New York’s Penn Station.
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But there are several reasons the Democratic governor is wary about taking on the construction of a new Hudson River rail tunnel, estimated to cost $14 billion or more when other improvements are factored in.
“It is an Amtrak tunnel that is used by Amtrak and by New Jersey Transit”, Cuomo said.
On a tour of the tunnel and electrical system at Penn Station Monday that included Amtrak officials and New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney, the scope of the problem became more evident and not only because, as if on cue, a disabled train earlier in the morning had caused an hour’s backup.
In testimony to New Jersey lawmakers last week, a representative for Amtrak, the national passenger rail operator, said the delays would likely increase until the tunnels were renovated.
PolitickerNJ reported last week that Governor Chris Christie, Senator Cory Booker and federal Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx would be meeting today at the Senator’s Newark office to discuss the growing issues with the tunnels into New York City under the Hudson River. Closing one tube for a year of repairs would reduce the number of trains using the tunnel from 24 to 6 per hour at peak times, forcing tens of thousands of people onto ferries, buses or cars and further clogging the region’s already congested streets. Let’s take a look back at what’s been going on with the project, shall we?
Federal prosecutors say he paid off an illegal $1 million campaign loan with federal grants and charitable donations, and funneled campaign funds toward his son’s student loan. “They need to put their money where their mouth is”. In fact, transportation experts had been planning a new tunnel since at least the early 1990’s. The states’ share could possibly be financed by means of a low-interest federal mortgage program that has about $30 billion obtainable for rail infrastructure tasks, he stated.
Had Christie not cancelled ARC, the project would have been completed by 2017.
He confused that Amtrak has a duty to contribute to a brand new tunnel. “Why don’t you pay for it?” he told reporters, according to an Aug. 11 Associated Press report. Amtrak funding has been cut by Congress.
Last week, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called for the formation of a nonprofit Gateway Development Corporation, whose sole purpose would be to plan and secure funding for the project.
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“We’re looking at a variety of funding options and we’re willing to work with regional leaders to expedite them”, said Jon Romano, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation. “We also know the alternative is much worse”.
