Statement on Amtrak’s Gateway Tunnel by Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Environment New Jersey and NJ Sierra Club
Today’s “Gateway Tunnel” announcement by Amtrak and Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez is exciting news. Last year’s cancellation of the ARC Tunnel did not eliminate the need for a better cross-Hudson commute. We applaud Senators Lautenberg and Menendez for stepping into the breach and standing up for transit riders and the transportation needs of our region. Continued federal leadership will be crucial to this project’s success, given Congressional Republicans’ skepticism of Amtrak.
With the tunnel at least a decade away, improving bus service is the best way to expand transit capacity across the Hudson now. The Port Authority has identified several projects that would do so, including a new bus garage on Manhattan’s West Side, a new bus/carpool lane through the Lincoln Tunnel, and a full replacement of the Lincoln Tunnel helix.
After walking away from commuters by canceling the ARC Tunnel, it is time for Gov. Christie to get back on track by supporting near-term bus improvements and exploring the “Gateway Tunnel” proposal.