An Associated Press article from Trenton, New Jersey, yesterday reported that Amtrak and NJ Transit have begun discussing the possibility of partnering to build a second train tunnel under the Hudson River just weeks after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie killed just such a project.
"Officials at both agencies described the talks as merely exploratory and said they began after the governor's Oct. 27 announcement that he was canceling the tunnel project because of potential cost overruns," the article said.
The tunnel project "is over," said Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak, but "fiscally viable alternatives" would be investigated, he said, adding that the talks do not mean that the scrapped tunnel project is being revived.
"Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said that among the things being looked at is whether the work already done for the project could be salvaged for Amtrak's needs. 'We're looking into common project opportunities with NJ Transit,' Cole said. 'We're not sure if there are even any opportunities that would work but we've been asked to sit down and talk with them and we've begun that process.'
Amtrak, the article continued, has said it would be interested in using the Hudson River tunnel for high-speed rail, adding that "In September, the government-owned passenger rail system unveiled its vision for a $117 billion high-speed rail line that would require building a new set of tracks along the entire Northeast Corridor, from Boston to Washington, D.C." No substantial planning has begun, nor has financing been secured.
The article noted that "the planned tunnel was criticized not only for its price tag but also because only NJ Transit trains would have used it and because those trains would not have stopped at Penn Station. Instead, they would have used a new station at 34th Street under Macy's department store. Ross Capon, executive director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, said it makes sense for Amtrak to try to revive the project, provided the tunnels can be made to terminate at Penn Station."
The article said that "Amtrak is not in a position to finance its high-speed rail vision and would probably seek aid from the Obama administration in either loans or grants," adding that "One question mark is whether Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who is in line to become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in January, would support a bid by Amtrak to revive the project" as he has been an outspoken critic of Amtrak.
"Officials at both agencies described the talks as merely exploratory and said they began after the governor's Oct. 27 announcement that he was canceling the tunnel project because of potential cost overruns," the article said.
The tunnel project "is over," said Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak, but "fiscally viable alternatives" would be investigated, he said, adding that the talks do not mean that the scrapped tunnel project is being revived.
"Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said that among the things being looked at is whether the work already done for the project could be salvaged for Amtrak's needs. 'We're looking into common project opportunities with NJ Transit,' Cole said. 'We're not sure if there are even any opportunities that would work but we've been asked to sit down and talk with them and we've begun that process.'
Amtrak, the article continued, has said it would be interested in using the Hudson River tunnel for high-speed rail, adding that "In September, the government-owned passenger rail system unveiled its vision for a $117 billion high-speed rail line that would require building a new set of tracks along the entire Northeast Corridor, from Boston to Washington, D.C." No substantial planning has begun, nor has financing been secured.
The article noted that "the planned tunnel was criticized not only for its price tag but also because only NJ Transit trains would have used it and because those trains would not have stopped at Penn Station. Instead, they would have used a new station at 34th Street under Macy's department store. Ross Capon, executive director of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, said it makes sense for Amtrak to try to revive the project, provided the tunnels can be made to terminate at Penn Station."
The article said that "Amtrak is not in a position to finance its high-speed rail vision and would probably seek aid from the Obama administration in either loans or grants," adding that "One question mark is whether Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who is in line to become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in January, would support a bid by Amtrak to revive the project" as he has been an outspoken critic of Amtrak.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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