Coalition Outlines Numerous Goals for Gateway Program projects; including the need for the FTA to Improve the Hudson Tunnel Project’s Rating Immediately

NEW YORK, NY - Today, the Build Gateway Now Coalition released their list of New Year’s Resolutions outlining Gateway Program goals for the coming year. Numerous projects could see significant advances, particularly the Hudson Tunnel Project, which needs to receive an upgraded project rating from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) early this year to make it eligible for full federal funding.

The Gateway Program is an investment in the future of our region for the next 100 years; rehabilitating and expanding the busiest section of the Northeast Corridor that connects 20% of our nation’s economy. The Portal Bridge and North River Tunnel, however, are now 111-years old and in desperate need of remediation or replacement. To avoid having these critical pieces of our transportation network reach a point where they need to be taken out of service, the Build Gateway Coalition proposes the following:

Hudson Tunnel Improved Project Rating:

Receive an improved project rating for the Hudson Tunnel Project from the FTA to make the project eligible for federal funding in short order. The plan meets all the benchmarks needed for a medium or better rating, and the improvement in the rating is crucial to getting the project done quickly and efficiently.

Hudson Tunnel pre-Construction:

Move an early works program for the Hudson Tunnel Project forward as expediently as possible. This could include important project elements such as completing the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing or building a bridge over Tonnele Ave. in North Bergen, NJ, among other projects that will prepare the areas on both sides of the Hudson for construction of the tunnel.

Portal North Bridge Construction:

Start full construction for the Portal North Bridge. With NJTransit authorizing the award of a contract late last year, construction of the bridge can finally move forward in 2022. The bridge is planned to be in partial operation by 2025 with its full capacity complete by 2027.

Penn Station Expansion EIS Scope:

Release the scope of work for the EIS for the expansion of Penn Station and begin the NEPA environmental review process. Expansion of tracks and platforms at Penn is needed to unlock the full capacity of the rest of the Gateway Program. The first public documents of the environmental review process should be released this year, outlining the general scope of work for the project and the various options and alignments being considered.

Sawtooth Bridges Engineering:

Begin Preliminary Engineering and advance financial plan in preparation for construction. Originally built in 1907, the bridges are in need of replacement and an expansion to four tracks to avoid being another bottleneck between Newark and Secaucus. A full funding agreement is needed to advance the project towards construction.

Bergen Loop Planning:

Advance planning for this transformative project that will create a one-seat ride to Penn Station for NJ TRANSIT riders in Northern New Jersey and Metro-North customers in Rockland and Orange counties in New York who currently must transfer at Secaucus Junction.

Program Economic Impacts:

Continue to emphasize the Gateway Program’s significant economic benefits and the importance of the Hudson Tunnel Project and Portal North Bridge to economic recovery from COVID. Construction of the Hudson Tunnel project alone has been projected to create 17,000 jobs and $19B in economic activity, while the Portal North Bridge will create another 11,600 jobs. There has never been a better time to invest in the future of our region. We have already delayed far too long in acting on this project and every day of additional delay adds $1.2 million in inflation to the project’s overall cost.

“2022 is projected to be a banner year for the Gateway Program,” said Brian Fritsch, Campaign Manager for Build Gateway Now. ​“With the staunch support of the Governors of New Jersey and New York, President Biden, and Congress via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, the future of the Gateway Program has never been brighter. We look forward to a number of projects taking major steps forward this year, beginning with an updated and improved project rating from the FTA to make the Hudson Tunnel project eligible for the support Congressional leaders have promised.”

About Build Gateway Now:

Build Gateway Now is a coalition of over 45 civic, labor, business, and elected groups who know Gateway is the nation’s most important infrastructure project and a critical priority for the nation’s economy. Learn more at buildgateway.org or follow us on Twitter @build_gateway.

Coalition members include: Regional Plan Association; ALM Consulting Group; Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); Association for a Better New York (ABNY); Brookfield Properties; Central Jersey Transportation Forum; Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey; Duane Morris LLP; ELEC825; Environmental Defense Fund (EDF); Environment NJ; General Contractors Association (GCA); HNTB; Housing Community Development Network of NJ; Jacobs; JPC Group, Inc.; Lotus Equity Group; Menlo Realty Ventures; NAIOP New Jersey; Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); New Jersey Future; New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce; New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (NJLCV); New Jersey Policy Perspective; New York Building Congress; New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV); Newark Alliance; NEWARK Community Economic Development Corporation; Newark Regional Business Partnership; PACO Technologies Inc.; Partnership for NYC; Princeton University; Raritan Valley Line Mayor’s Alliance, Raritan Valley Rail Coalition; Riders Alliance; REBNY; Right Track for Long Island Coalition; Siemens; Somerset County Business Partnership; Straphangers Campaign; Tantum Real Estate; The Durst Organization; The Related Companies; Tri-State Transportation Campaign; Two Trees; Utility & Transportation Contractors Association NJ (UTCA of NJ); Vornado Realty Trust; WSP, Yale University