Holland Tunnel Holiday Decor To Change Amid Controversy

TRIBECA, NY — It's a Christmas miracle. The Port Authority will rearrange awkwardly placed fir and wreath decorations on the Holland Tunnel after the decor sparked a holiday controversy.

The Port Authority settled "the great Holland Tunnel decoration debate" with a five-day poll, asking motorists to weigh in on how transit officials should rearrange the holiday dressing.

As it is now, the Jersey-side of the tunnel has a festive tree over the letter "N" in Holland — which would have been more symmetrically positioned over the "A" — and put a wreath over the "U" turning the passage into a "Tonnel."

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After more than 21,000 votes, commuters picked from four options and settled on moving the tree positioned over the "N" to the "A" and will nix the second wreath over the "U," leaving the "U" in Tunnel bare. The winning choice earned 41.7 percent of the vote, transit officials announced Monday.

“Some may call it a miracle that the traveling public has spoken and the Port Authority actually listened,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.

“But beyond the merriment and cheer with which we’ve accommodated this groundswell of holiday commentary, it illustrates that we take all customer feedback seriously."

The changes will be made Monday night.

Transit officials decided to solve the decor debate with a poll after a Tribeca-based commuter launched a petition to change the oddly placed tree and wreath.

The petition earned more than 2,900 signatures and requested that the holiday decorations at the tunnel’s toll plaza be shifted to ease distress experienced by those suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, commonly referred to as OCD.

Transit officials also announced that the authority will explore hosting a holiday decor design competition in 2019 to further involve the public in dressing up the Holland Tunnel for the holidays.

Photo courtesy of Julio Cortez/AP Photo