Regional Plan Association applauds the Gateway Development Commission for the progress made on the Hudson Tunnel Project. Reliable rail service is essential to sustaining our regional economy, workforce, and quality of life, and the Commission’s steady momentum is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected future. With hundreds of thousands of commuters traveling to New York from west of the Hudson by train every day, ensuring safe, modern, and resilient rail infrastructure is critical not only for daily life but also for long-term economic growth.

We are especially encouraged to see how quickly construction is advancing. In just the past 18 months, GDC has nearly completed the first construction package, advanced a second project past the halfway mark, and begun three additional packages. This progress is already supporting more than 20,000 jobs and generating $4.5 billion in economic activity across the region and beyond.

The adoption of the Delivery Partner model, a procurement approach where a client hires a strategic partner to provide specialized project and program management expertise for complex infrastructure projects, has been a key factor in this success. By drawing on the best expertise, talent, and innovation from both the public and private sectors, GDC has demonstrated how this proven approach can deliver large-scale, complex projects efficiently and effectively. This partnership has made it possible to move the Hudson Tunnel Project forward faster, while maintaining a lean agency and maximizing economic benefits for local communities. Most importantly, the Delivery Partner model ensures that the right team is in place so that our new infrastructure will be built to last.

RPA commends the Commission for its vision and commitment to building the world-class infrastructure our region deserves. We look forward to continuing to support this work as the Hudson Tunnel Project advances and helps secure the region’s economic vitality for decades to come.