N.J Rail Tunnel Project Would Cost $13B - And It May Never Happen

A new report says rebuilding a century-old tunnel that connects New Jersey and Manhattan - as well as building a new tunnel on top of that to increase capacity - could cost $13 billion.

And the Trump administration is sending signals that the project may never happen.

The estimated cost to complete the new Hudson River Tunnel - as part of the "Gateway project" is $11.1 billion. The rehabilitation of the North River Tunnel, which carries NJ Transit in and out of Manhatan, is estimated to cost $1.8 billion, according to the Federal Rail Administration report.

The total cost of the Hudson Tunnel Project, as a result, would be $12.9 billion - nearly double the original estimate. The total cost estimate includes estimates for design and engineering,
construction, and other related project costs. This estimated cost will continue to be refined as
engineering and design continues, according to the report.

The project would also be nearly double of the estimated cost of the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) project that was supposed to double capacity of the rail system, until Gov. Chris Christie killed the project in 2010.

While the Obama administration had supported the project, meanwhile, the Trump administration has not committed to providing federal financing for the tunnel.

Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary, has said that she and President Trump understand the tunnel’s importance, but the administration has proposed cutting a grant program that could have helped pay for the project, according to The New York Times.

The construction of a tunnel could begin by fall 2019 and could open by 2026, according to the report.

Expanding capacity has become a much bigger issue in New Jersey in recent months as NJ Transit has been plagued by construction, mechanical problems and scheduling delays. Some point to Christie's decision to cancel the ARC project as a reason for the current problems.

Amtrak and NJ Transit have been under heavy fire recently for repeated delays and other maintenance and infrastructural problems that have delayed trains for hours. NJT and state officials have blamed Amtrak, noting that the agency operates the tracks and manages its overall schedule.

Read more: NJ Transit: Penn Station Delays Will Continue Indefinitely

Amtrak will be working throughout the summer to make the required improvements, while collaborating with NJ Transit and the LIRR to minimize disruptions and inconvenience for customers, Moorman said.

Amtrak has undertaken a series of major track and switch renewal projects in Penn Station, beginning with the western portion of the station area, the agency said.

The first set of projects will occur in the area of tracks and switches known as “A Interlocking,” which serves as the sorting mechanism routing trains that enter Penn Station from the Hudson River tunnels and the Long Island Rail Road’s West Side Yard to the various station tracks and platforms, according to the agency.

Further renewal work of various station tracks will be undertaken through approximately June 2018, with a majority of that work done on weekends, according to the agency.

Patch file photo