Thank you to the Gateway Development Commission for inviting public comment today. My name is Christina Kata. I am the New Jersey Policy Associate for Regional Plan Association. I am testifying on behalf of RPA and the Build Gateway Now Coalition.

For many years, RPA and the Build Gateway Now coalition have prioritized how we can move the Gateway Program forward. We’ve led research projects and strategic communications efforts, and engaged the public, electeds, and other stakeholders to convey the importance of the Hudson Tunnel Project. This past year, especially the past six months, we have celebrated milestones for the Hudson Tunnel Project that represent the beginning of the culmination of this collective work; most notably, that construction has officially started on both sides of the river at Hudson Yards Concrete Casing and Tonnelle Avenue. Congratulations to the GDC and all project leaders on meeting this obligation, and keeping the project on schedule.

This year we have also celebrated a historic amount of federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project. Roughly $11 billion federal dollars have been awarded by the US Department of Transportation, and that historic investment is a testament not only to the importance of the project but also to the responsibility that the GDC has demonstrated to move the project forward. We are especially proud that a rail project is finally being viewed as nearly as important as most interstate highway projects, which can usually count on 80 to 90 percent of the project costs being covered by the Federal Government. We hope our timely research on the importance of the Gateway Program to the regional and national economies contributed somewhat to finally getting a larger share of the funds from Washington.

As we look forward to more progress in the year ahead, we will continue to be fierce advocates of the Gateway Program. We will urge government officials to move quickly on the remaining funding commitments, and continue to advocate for Phase 2 projects of the Gateway Program – the completion of all 11 projects is what will truly modernize transportation in this critical section of the Northeast Corridor, creating a more sustainable future and bolstering our interconnected economies.

We look forward to reaching the point of no return for the Hudson Tunnel Project in 2024. Thank you.