Statement attributable to Tom Wright, President and CEO of Regional Plan Association.

Regional Plan Association (RPA) welcomes the release of committed federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project. The full reimbursement of $205 million owed by the federal government is paid, and is available to the Gateway Development Commission to restart construction on this vital project.

RPA urges all parties to ensure that the funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project is both consistent and reliable. Our regional economy should not have to suffer the catastrophic commuter challenges that a tunnel shutdown would cause, and any delay makes that outcome more and more likely. Every day this project is delayed, costs go up, and our region moves closer to a preventable crisis in transportation capacity and safety.

The sooner Gateway is built, the sooner modern, resilient infrastructure will expand capacity, strengthen reliability, and support millions of riders and businesses in the region.