Regional Plan Association strongly supports the Gateway Development Commission’s resumption of construction on the Hudson Tunnel Project. Restarting this work is a major victory for the hundreds of workers affected by the recent construction pause, the millions of riders who rely on the Northeast Corridor, and everyone who depends on safe, reliable transportation along the East Coast.
While this progress is encouraging, the project remains at significant risk. The workers who have returned to the job could once again face layoffs within months if the federal government fails to continue disbursing the funding it has already committed. A sustained and reliable flow of federal support is essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring that construction proceeds without further interruption.
We cannot afford additional delays. Prior to the funding freeze, GDC consistently met construction milestones on time and within budget. The Commission is now working to regain that momentum, and continued federal funding is critical to keeping this vital infrastructure project on track.
The Hudson Tunnel Project is not only a transportation necessity—it is also a powerful economic engine. Active construction is already supporting thousands of jobs, and the full project is expected to create approximately 95,000 jobs and generate $19.6 billion in economic activity nationwide. These benefits extend well beyond the Northeast, supporting workers, suppliers, and communities across the country.
Moreover, the importance of this project reaches far beyond New York and New Jersey. The North River Tunnel is a critical link in the national rail network, and it is not a question of if, but when, it will need to be taken out of service for repairs. Any delay in completing the new tunnel increases the risk of a disruptive closure that would ripple across the entire East Coast, costing the national economy billions of dollars.
Recent experience with the Portal North Bridge underscores what is at stake. For decades, the aging bridge caused frequent delays and service disruptions for rail riders. With the new bridge now complete and delivering more reliable service, the region is already seeing the benefits of modern, resilient infrastructure. The Hudson Tunnel Project will build on that success, providing the same level of reliability and redundancy for one of the most critical segments of the Northeast Corridor.
Significant public investment has already been made in the Hudson Tunnel Project. Billions of dollars and years of planning and construction have brought the project to its current stage. Halting progress now would squander that investment and undermine the long-term benefits it is intended to deliver.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that the federal government has a legal obligation to fulfill its funding commitments. Courts have consistently affirmed that the government must honor the binding agreements it has entered into for this project. Upholding these commitments is essential not only for the Hudson Tunnel Project, but for maintaining trust in federal infrastructure partnerships nationwide.
RPA urges the federal government to continue disbursing funds without interruption so that GDC can deliver this critical project. The stakes are too high—for workers, for riders, and for the national economy—to do otherwise.”
