Gateway Tunnel Advances; NJ Democrats Credit Biden Administration

NEW JERSEY — A plan to build a new train tunnel between New Jersey and New York hit a roadblock in the Donald Trump era. But the massive public works project known as the Gateway Tunnel has roared back to life under the presidency of Joe Biden – and many top Democrats in the Garden State are optimistic that its time has finally come.

On Friday, federal officials approved a key environmental impact statement that has been holding up the Gateway Tunnel for years.

The massive infrastructure project would build a two-track Hudson River rail tunnel from New Jersey to Manhattan. It would help alleviate chronic delays on the aging Northeast Corridor, which serves Amtrak and NJ Transit.

State officials in New Jersey and New York have been trying to secure federal funding for the project for years, but met stiff resistance from transportation officials during the Trump Administration.

• See related article: $13B Gateway Tunnel In Jeopardy; Feds Trash Obama-Era Deal

However, the Gateway Tunnel has been put back on track by federal officials, who issued Friday’s decision months ahead of the expected deadline.

The news got a shout out from Gov. Phil Murphy, who called it a “significant milestone” in the quest to bring “much-needed relief” to commuters and businesses in the two states.

“Today’s action is a key step forward to building rail infrastructure that will be dependable for decades to come,” Murphy said, thanking President Biden, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and federal officials with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Murphy also thanked New Jersey’s two U.S. senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, and members of the House, for their support.

• See related article: Gateway Tunnel Back On Track Under Biden, NJ Governor Says

In a joint statement on Friday, Menendez and Booker blasted the Trump administration for delaying the project.

“After three years of politically-motivated delays and attempts by the Trump administration to derail Gateway, this long-overdue milestone gets us one step closer to building a new trans-Hudson rail tunnel and delivering New Jersey commuters the safe, reliable service they demand and deserve,” said Menendez, a senior member of the Senate’s mass transit subcommittee.

“In recent weeks, Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Nuria Fernandez, the acting head of the Federal Transit Administration, gave me their word that they will continue to work with me, our state’s congressional delegation, Gov. Murphy, and the project sponsors to advance Gateway – and I intend to hold them to their commitments,” Menendez added.

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Booker also gave Friday’s news a big thumbs-up.

“I applaud the FRA for issuing a final record of decision that will move the Hudson River Tunnel Project into the next phase, marking yet another exciting step toward providing New Jersey commuters the relief they desperately need,” Booker said.

“Since the early meetings of the stakeholders for this project, we affirmed long-term commitments to updating this outdated infrastructure and putting the Gateway Program back on track,” Booker added.

• See related article: Hudson River Tunnel Shutdown Would Hurt Families, Economy: Report

Here’s why the tunnel is needed, according to Menendez and Booker:

“The current Hudson River rail tunnels were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy. Building a new tunnel allows trains to travel between New Jersey and New York City while the old ones are taken out of service for repair. Should the existing Hudson River tunnels need to be taken out of service without a replacement in place, Amtrak estimates that a shutdown of the Northeast Corridor could cost the economy nearly $100 million in transportation-related impacts and productivity losses per day.”

The project has seen bipartisan support from New Jersey lawmakers including U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, and recently retired Rodney Frelinghuysen, the Republican who she replaced in District 11.

It’s also seen support from congressmen Donald Payne Jr., as well as Tom Malinowski, who praised Friday’s update – and took a jab at Trump.

“The last administration politicized the environmental review to prevent the tunnel from being built,” Malinowski said. “Today, the Biden Administration met our request and took the next step in getting the project back on track.”

• See related article: These Congress Members Say NJ Urgently Needs 'Gateway Tunnel'

The Gateway Tunnel is one component of the larger Gateway Project, which would also include replacing the "functionally obsolete" Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River. The combined cost has been estimated as high as $30 billion.

• See related article: Good News For One Of NJ's Most Hated Crossings: Portal Bridge
• See related article: NY, NJ, PA Residents Overwhelmingly Support Gateway Program, Poll Says

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