New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will continue to mull over the fate of the nation’s largest mass-transit project instead of announcing a decision this week as expected on a $8.7 billion commuter-rail tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said Friday that the governor will not make an announcement regarding the tunnel, called the Access to the Region’s Core, until next week. Christie canceled the ARC project Oct. 7, saying the state could not afford projected cost overruns of $2 billion to $5 billion. He agreed to reconsider the project a day later at the behest of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. That two-week review period ended Friday.
Drewniak said there is no hard deadline for an announcement on the tunnel’s future. He indicated the governor could release his decision next week after reviewing New Jersey Transit executive director Jim Weinstein’s report on the 8.8 mile-long tunnel, which is already 16 months into construction.
“He expects to get a report from Weinstein on recommendations, conclusions from the federal/state working group,” Drewniak said Friday in an e-mail. “The governor will consider that through at least the weekend.”
“He’ll also consult with individuals as he feels necessary,” he said.
