The Gateway Development Commission, responsible for constructing new rail tunnels under the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York, has announced that work on the project will cease entirely on February 6 unless federal funding is provided. The commission’s statement follows President Donald Trump’s decision last fall to end the project as part of a broader effort to eliminate certain government programs.
“We’re terminating those programs, and they’re going to be terminated on a permanent basis. … It’s billions and billions of dollars that [New York U.S. Sen. Chuck] Schumer has worked 20 years to get. It’s terminated. Tell him it’s terminated,” Trump said.
This announcement came after Senate Democrats, led by Senator Schumer, opposed a temporary spending bill intended to reopen the government during a shutdown.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a statement this week criticizing President Trump for his decision regarding the tunnel project.
“The president’s refusal to fund the Gateway Tunnel project is not only an illegal attack on New Jersey but also shows a reckless disregard for our economy and the livelihoods of working families,” she said…
James Hughes, an economist at Rutgers University and dean emeritus of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, commented on the potential consequences if construction does not continue. He explained that halting work would have major negative effects across the northeastern United States due to reliance on transportation along the Northeast corridor connecting major cities from Washington D.C. through Boston.
“The Northeast region’s economy is really dependent on the Northeast corridor, particularly linking Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston,” he said. “Once you stop a project it’s very difficult to start again.”
Governor Sherrill stated that New Jersey will pursue all available options to secure funding for what she described as an essential infrastructure initiative: “New Jersey will fight tooth and nail for our hard-earned tax dollars and this essential project that will make commutes easier and improve quality of life for residents in the Garden State.”