Good morning, I’m Sophie Cappello, representing Regional Plan Association and the Build Gateway Now coalition. Our coalition is comprised of over 45 civic, labor, business, and elected groups united to support the nation’s most urgent infrastructure project.

Thank you to the Gateway Development Commission for inviting public comment today. The coalition is very pleased to see the Hudson Tunnel Project off to a strong start in 2024. We are excited to hear that the Commissioners are voting on authorizing the award of the first contract for the Hudson River Ground Stabilization project. Having celebrated the groundbreaking on early work projects at Hudson Yards and Tonnelle Avenue in 2023, this contract award indicates that the construction of the main components of the tunnel are moving forward and will show substantial progress in 2024.

We also congratulate the GDC for submitting the updated financial plan for the Tunnel Project to the federal government, the last major hurdle to be cleared before receiving a Full Funding Grant Agreement, which we all eagerly anticipate. In an unprecedented achievement for a transit project, the plan shows that a huge share of the funding commitment has been lifted from New York and New Jersey, with the federal government now projected to cover 73% of the project’s total costs – up from an initial estimate of just under 50%. This will allow New York and New Jersey to invest these funds in other critical transportation needs and is a testament to GDC’s hard work and enormous success over the past few years.

And while this funding share is largely unprecedented, it shouldn’t be. Projects to expand or improve interstate highways typically receive enormous shares of federal funding, often at 90% or more. The same should be true for public transportation. States should not have to bear a great burden to improve transit systems that are better for people, better for the economy, and better for the environment. This is important to advocate for as we look to funding Gateway Phase 2 projects, which should receive the same funding model that the Hudson Tunnel Project has achieved. As the Hudson Tunnel Project moves full steam ahead, thanks to the impressive work by the GDC, agency partners, and state and federal government partners, we will keep the pressure on to make sure all 11 projects of the Gateway Program are funded and completed.

Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today, and congratulations to the GDC and all partners on the successful progress to get the Hudson Tunnel Project built.