Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project to Receive Funding for Improved Reliability

On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City will join Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey in a discussion about infrastructure funding for the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project. This project is intended to improve reliability for the 200,000 passenger trips per weekday on Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. The project has been in the works since 2017, but has faced several delays due to lack of funding. The project includes constructing two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River and replacing existing tracks and bridges that are more than 100 years old. This would provide additional capacity and reliability to one of the busiest transportation corridors in North America. It would also reduce delays caused by overcrowding, weather-related issues, or mechanical failures. The estimated cost of this project is $13 billion dollars with half being paid by federal funds and half by local governments from both states. Governor Murphy has stated that he is “committed to making sure this vital infrastructure investment gets done” and Mayor de Blasio expressed his support for “ensuring reliable transit options for our commuters” during their joint press conference last week. The mayors have also discussed potential ways to raise revenue such as raising tolls on interstate highways or increasing taxes on gasoline sales in order to fund the project. However, these measures have yet to be approved by both state legislatures and it remains unclear how much money can be raised through these methods. The mayors hope that their meeting will bring attention to this important issue so that they can secure enough funding for this critical infrastructure improvement project before it’s too late. With over 200,000 passengers relying on Amtrak and New Jersey Transit every day, ensuring reliable service is essential for commuters across both states.