Rep. Payne, Jr. Urges FTA to Fast Track the Hudson River Tunnel Project

September 16, 2021

Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. asked the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to make the financial plan of the Hudson River Tunnel a top priority in order for the project to begin construction soon. Rep. Payne, Jr. wrote a letter to Nuria Fernandez, FTA Administrator, to give the plan "full and fair consideration" to prevent additional delays in planning for the almost $12 billion project.

"This tunnel is a critical artery for the Northeast Corridor, which generates 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product," wrote Rep. Payne, Jr. "If the tunnel were to shut down for any reason, it would cost our economy $100 million every day in lost output and disrupt travel for 200,000 daily passengers."

A new Hudson River Tunnel, as part of the Gateway Program, is the most important infrastructure project in the nation and a centerpiece of President Biden's American Jobs Plan. The letter stated that the "current tunnel is part of America's rapidly decaying infrastructure that needs to be brought into the 21st century. Without a new tunnel, rail travel will be critically impacted along the Northeast Corridor and economic disruptions will reverberate across the entire nation."

The full letter is below.

September 16, 2021

The Honorable Nuria Fernandez

Administrator

Federal Transit Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Administrator Fernandez:

The Gateway Program is the most pressing infrastructure need in the country and it is vital that its projects are quickly approved and fully funded. On August 27, 2021, the Gateway Program Project Partners submitted an updated financial plan regarding funding of the new Hudson River Tunnel. As you know, a project's financial plan is key to the Federal Transit Administration's rating determination under the Capital Investment Grants program. We urge you to give full and fair consideration in your review of the project to prevent any additional delay in starting construction on the Hudson River Tunnel.

This tunnel is a critical artery for the Northeast Corridor, which generates 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product. If the tunnel were to shut down for any reason, it would cost our economy $100 million every day in lost output and disrupt travel for 200,000 daily passengers.

Construction of the Hudson River Tunnel project has been stymied by unnecessary political delays for over six years. We are grateful to see that the Biden administration has taken steps toward full approval and eligibility for federal funding. We are hopeful that the rest of the approval process will be carried out expeditiously.

Completion of the new Hudson River Tunnel is a centerpiece of the vision set out by President Biden's American Jobs Plan. The current tunnel is part of America's rapidly decaying infrastructure that needs to be brought into the 21st century. Without a new tunnel, rail travel will be critically impacted along the Northeast Corridor and economic disruptions will reverberate across the entire nation.

Again, we thank you for your leadership on this very important issue and look forward to working with you to fully fund the new Hudson River Tunnel.

Sincerely,