From (THE STAR LEDGER):
U.S. Senate approves $15M for work on proposed Amtrak tunnel spanning from Secaucus to N.Y. Penn Station
Published: Tuesday, November 01, 2011, 9:00 PM Updated: Wednesday, November 02, 2011, 6:26 AM
One option gives New Jersey commuters more trains to midtown Manhattan and greater control of rail schedules. The other provides better East Side access and a direct ride to see the Mets at Citi Field.
The proposed Gateway Tunnel from Secaucus to New York Penn Station and the plan to extend New York City’s No. 7 subway line to Secaucus are chugging along on different tracks, but at some point might be on a collision course.
The U.S. Senate approved $15 million today for design and engineering work on Amtrak’s proposed tunnel project, at the same time New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is touting the subway plan.
New York City paid $250,000 for a feasibility study for the subway extension, which could cost an estimated $10 billion and take a decade to complete.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s two U.S. senators and New York’s two U.S. senators — all Democrats — voiced their support today for the Gateway Tunnel, which would add another 13 NJ Transit trains during peak hours, from 20 to 33, and eight more Amtrak trains. That project is expected to cost $13.5 billion and take nine years to finish.
"People crossing the Hudson River are facing outrageous tolls, traffic jams and train service that is getting less and less reliable," U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said in a statement. "The Gateway project will add enormous capacity across the Hudson and also pave the way for true high speed rail for the entire region."
"The Gateway Tunnel is critical for New Jersey commuters and the economy of our state and the entire region," U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said. "The existing tunnel is more than a century old and not capable of adequately servicing our region’s growing number of transit riders."
The bill approved by the Democrat-controlled Senate still needs approval of the Republican-controlled House.
New Jersey mass transit advocates have been receptive to both alternatives to the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel that was terminated a year ago by Gov. Chris Christie. That project was scrapped because of anticipated cost overruns.
Christie has been open to both alternative proposals to increase rail capacity under the Hudson.
"It is still very early in the study and discussion stage for both options, but we are pleased that all the benefiting jurisdictions are interested and participating," Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said.
But with federal funding tight for even one rail tunnel project, much less two, New Jersey will likely have to make a choice.
Gateway would allow some New Jersey commuters transfer-free rides to Manhattan, provide a backup tunnel for Amtrak and ease congestion on the packed Northeast Corridor Line, officials said.
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