Hudson Tunnel Project Receives Funding for Early Stages

Today, the United States Department of Transportation announced funding for the critical early stages of the Hudson Tunnel project. This is a major step forward in building a 21st century rail system that has been long overdue. The project will involve constructing two new single-track tunnels under the Hudson River, connecting New Jersey and New York City. The tunnel will replace an existing 110-year-old two-track tunnel that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The new tunnel will provide much needed relief to commuters who rely on this route every day, as well as create jobs and economic growth in both states. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around $13 billion, with $737 million allocated for early stages such as design and engineering work. The announcement comes after years of delays due to political disputes between state governments and federal agencies over how to fund the project. Despite these obstacles, today’s announcement shows that progress is being made towards completing this important infrastructure project. U.S Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao commented on the announcement saying “This is an important step forward in creating a 21st century rail system for our nation’s busiest corridor…We are committed to working with our partners at all levels of government to ensure this vital infrastructure improvement gets done quickly and efficiently." New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also expressed his support for the project saying “This is a major milestone for New Jersey commuters…We look forward to continuing our partnership with President Trump’s administration as we move ahead with construction on this critically important infrastructure investment."