Good morning, GDC Board. My name is Ian Acriche and I am here representing Regional Plan Association, the nation’s oldest metropolitan planning organization.
RPA would like to recognize Gateway Development Commission’s progress this year, bringing historic levels of investment into our region including $12 billion in federal commitments for the Hudson Tunnel project. RPA remains a steadfast partner in infrastructure progress that will benefit both the nation and the region.
The jobs and economic benefits for Gateway support our collective future growth and prosperity. Some of that progress and success has already been published in our Early Work, Early Benefits report, which is available on RPA’s website. This report noted that the in-progress work is already creating 7,500 jobs and $1.6 billion in economic activity from the three projects currently under construction: the concrete casing in Manhattan, Tonnelle in New Jersey, and the Hudson River ground stabilization.
Overall construction is expected to produce 95,000 new jobs and $19.6 billion in economic impact, 20,000 more than originally thought. This is only the beginning of the potential economic and job benefits of the full Gateway Program. Our forthcoming work - to be published in the new year - will detail the full scope of economic benefits from the full build out of the Gateway Program, and we look forward to sharing that both with the Board and the region and nation more broadly. Infrastructure investment benefits everyone regardless of political affiliation. For every individual dollar invested in public transportation, our economy sees a return of $4 in additional economic output, resulting in more jobs and higher incomes.
As for progress today, RPA celebrates the news that the Tonnelle Ave Bridge & Utility Relocation Project has hit 50% completion, both on schedule and on budget. This is significant because the Tonnelle Ave project creates the access point for the first Tunnel Boring Machines, so keeping this work on track is critical to the overall Hudson Tunnel Project.
Thank you for your time today, and congrats again on this impressive project.
