New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie met Tuesday with federal transportation officials about a long-stalled new Hudson River rail tunnel that would connect his state to New York City.
The meeting came three weeks after U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx sent a letter urging Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prioritize Amtrak's "Gateway project" that is estimated to cost over $14 billion. Cuomo did not attend the meeting at the Newark office of U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., which also included Secretary Foxx and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D.N.J.
"Transit across the Hudson River carries an enormous and increasing share of this region's workforce and economy, and it is clear that something must be done, and done now, as commuters continue to endure serious daily challenges that come with an aging infrastructure," said Christie, Booker, Foxx and Menendez in joint statement following the meeting. "We had a substantive and productive meeting today and all of us are committed to working together on a path forward on this critical project."
The statement added that Booker, Menendez and Christie will work with Secretary Foxx to obtain "a substantial federal grant contribution" for the tunnel project while also seeking other funding and financing options.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which has jurisdiction over Trans-Hudson crossings in the New York City region, has also urged federal backing for the so-called ARC project that Christie killed in 2010 because of cost concerns.
Port Authority Chairman John Degnan said in a July 27 letter to Foxx that the federal government has so far only pledged $3 billion for the tunnel. Pressure to jumpstart the tunnel project has increased in the last month following a series of delays that Amtrak and New Jersey Transit riders experienced in late July related to a power outage.
"Governor Christie and Governor Cuomo agree that any tunnel will have to contain significantly greater federal grant funding than the ill-designed and poorly funded ARC tunnel," said Christie's deputy press secretary Nicole Sizemore in a statement.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer proposed on Aug. 11 the creation of a new nonprofit development corporation that would unite transportation agencies impacted by the potential tunnel in seeking financing for the project. Schumer's proposal would involve participation from New York State, New Jersey, New York City, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Amtrak, MTA, New Jersey Transit and the Port Authority.
"The state of New Jersey supports the Gateway project and is committed to developing a framework with the Federal government to begin it," the joint statement from Christie, Booker, Foxx and Menendez said. "We all recognize that the only way forward is equitable distribution of funding responsibility and the active participation of all parties."
Cuomo released a statement after the meeting expressing support for the project.
"For the past several weeks there has been much discussion about building a new cross Hudson tunnel," said Cuomo. "I am excited by the dialogue, and I am encouraged by the positive statement issued following today's meeting held by Senator Booker for the New Jersey delegation and the federal government. It appears all parties are on the same page: the key to moving forward is obtaining federal grant support for the project."
