New York-area transportation officials see encouraging signs that Washington is ready to move on the long-stalled $11.6 billion Gateway project involving upgrades to a 110-year-old tunnel linking New York City and northern New Jersey.
Anthony Coscia, Amtrak board chairman and vice chairman of the nascent Gateway Development Commission, called the delays akin to “four years of wandering in the wilderness.” The seven-member, bi-state commission met for the first time on Friday.
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“It is truly a project of national significance,” Trottenberg, former New York City transportation commissioner, told Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. “[It] would have just a massive rippling impact if we were to see those over-100-year-old tunnels under the Hudson River for some reason need to be shut down.”
The project would include constructing a dual-track tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitating existing tubes to double-rail capacity.
For now, costs would require nearly $5.5 billion in federal funds, $1.3 billion from Amtrak, $1.2 billion from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, with New York and New Jersey splitting with remaining $3.35 billion with state funds.
The Federal Transit Administration, in another move that bodes well for the project, said it would allow states to use federal loans as matching funds.
Gateway still needs federal signoff on an environmental review.
The replacement of the Portal North Bridge over the Hudson River is another component project.
Steven Cohen and Balpreet Grewal-Virk from New York and New Jersey, respectively, are the commission’s co-chairs. Cohen is former secretary to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Grewal-Virk is a vice president, community engagement for the northern region at Hackensack Meridian Health.
Other members are Janine Bauer and Jerry Zaro from New Jersey, and Marie Therese Dominguez and Jamey Barbas from New York. Bauer is a partner at Szaferman Lakind. Zaro chairs the banking and real estate services department at Sills Cummis & Gross. Dominguez is state transportation commissioner, Barbas the Thruway Authority project director.
