Just over four years after the ARC tunnel project was cancelled, New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3) are calling for new rail tunnel construction under the Hudson River.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Fox appeared at a transportation symposium in Newark on Monday where he breached the subject and his remarks were transcribed by NJ BIZ.
“We need to get a tunnel under that river. … It’s expensive. It’s complicated. But it must be done,†Fox told various officials on hand, which included representatives from Amtrak and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
“This is not a sexy subject. It’s not one of those things you raise at a Thanksgiving dinner, but I’m asking you to do that.â€
Sweeney, who many political analysts are touting as a top Democratic gubernatorial candidate, took to Twitter this morning to explain why a new rail project in Hudson is long overdue.
Back in October 2010, Gov. Chris Christie put the breaks on the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) tunnel project that would’ve run from the Hudson River to Manhattan, citing that the nearly $9 billion cost was not manageable – even though $3 billion of federal money had already been appropriated to the project, per New York Times.
Then in February 2011, Amtrak proposed the Gateway Tunnel project, which would entail building two new Hudson River tunnels to Penn Station and four tracks through the New Jersey Meadowlands, among other repairs and construction necessities (h/t NJ.com).
The estimated costs associated with the Gateway Tunnel project remain undetermined as of this writing.
Imporant for Union men and women.
It’s important for the 11 percent of NJ residents that work in New York City. The massive delays in the morning and evening costs so much in lost productivity.
Will there be a connection to union city, around 33rd street and palisade avenue?