I’m Brian Fritsch, Campaign Manager for the Build Gateway Now Coalition. Build Gateway Now is a coalition of over 45 civic, labor, business, and elected groups. The common thread that binds us together — is that we know the Gateway Program is the nation’s most urgent infrastructure project and essential to the long-term vitality of the New York City region.

I’d like to start by congratulating the new GDC commissioners and thanking them for their attention to this incredibly important issue. The coalition looks forward to working with you and hope we can be an asset as you become acclimated to your new roles.

We also recognize the importance of the Federal Transportation Administration’s (FTA) recent decision to rescind its 2018 guidance wrongly suggesting that Federal loans repaid with local funds did not count toward the local share of project funding. We are thrilled to have an administration in Washington that is signaling its willingness to be an active partner on Gateway.

Similarly, we are looking forward to, and anticipating, swift movement by the U.S. DOT to issue a positive Record of Decision on the Hudson Tunnel Project environmental impact statement that has now been languishing for over three years. This would allow the commencement of important pre-construction work that is poised to begin.

Since the last GDC board meeting, the Build Gateway Now coalition has supported the project in a variety of ways. For example the Coalition recently partnered with NYU Wagner to produce a report called Infrastructure for Recovery and Renewal. This report quantified how major investments around the New York City metropolitan area – including Gateway – could energize job creation and economic activity in our region. The report also found the Hudson Tunnel project alone would create over 17,000 jobs and spur over $19B worth of economic activity. This is why projects like Gateway are crucially important for helping the Tri-State region bounce back from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. There has never been a better time to build.

Gateway is much more than just a jobs and recovery program, however. It is a crucial investment in the infrastructure that supports the New York City region that will continue to pay dividends for the next 100 years. While ridership may have temporarily slowed due to the pandemic, we know we are not building these projects for next year or even the next decade. Gateway is an investment for generations to come that will greatly improve the reliability of our transportation system and increase the quality of life for commuters, travelers, and those who depend on them.

Many thanks to the members of the Commission for your service, and for the opportunity to submit our public comment to you today.