The $8.7 billion tunnel is the largest transit public works project in the country
Workers are seen listening to the press conference held by politicians to discuss the threatened funding to the new trans-Hudson Tunnel at the entranceway to the ARC Tunnel Construction site in North Bergen.NORTH BERGEN — Against backdrop of yellow backhoes, dozens of construction workers and the portal to an $8.7 billion tunnel that may never be built, state and federal elected officials pushed their case Friday to save a major transit project suddenly in serious jeopardy.
"The message is pretty simple," U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said. "We don’t want to be just another parking lot for New York City and that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t get this tunnel done."
Lautenberg was joined by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), members of the state’s congressional delegation and state legislators at a North Bergen construction site. All argued that cancelling the proposed trans-Hudson tunnel, which will double the rail capacity from New Jersey to New York, would be a terrible mistake, costing jobs and squandering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"We need to find a way to make this work," Menendez said.
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and US Congressman Steve Rothman join US Senator Frank Lautenberg; during a press conference held at the entranceway to the ARC Tunnel Construction site in North Bergen. Their fears were sparked by Gov. Chris Christie’s decision this week to temporarily suspend all new work on the tunnel because of growing concerns the project may go as much as $1 billion over budget.
"We’re in a 30-day mode to have somebody give me a realistic idea of how much money is at stake here," Christie said at the time.
The project, officially known as the Access to the Region’s Core, Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel, is scheduled to be completed by late 2018. It represents the largest transit public works project in the country, with the federal government and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey each putting in $3 billion in grant money. New Jersey is responsible for the remainder, currently estimated at $2.7 billion.
Launtenberg and Menendez said delaying the project would threaten the billions already earmarked.
Christie’s action came after the Federal Transit Administration raised questions about the tunnel’s projected costs. The agency wants to know how the state would cover any budget shortfall before it finalizes the closing agreements on the project funding. Complicating the situation is that New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund, which helps fund rail projects, is nearly bankrupt.
There are fears Christie may ultimately kill the tunnel to re-finance the trust fund.
On Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Christie spoke by phone and FTA officials said both agreed to work together to further refine the estimated costs.
Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the governor, said the concerns were real.
"It is a legitimate issue for us to be inquiring as to the full cost of the project and the cost of contingency requirements, particularly in view of the states finances," Drewniak said.
Previous coverage:
• Gov. Christie says he ordered suspension of $8.7B trans-Hudson tunnel project
• N.J. halts new work on $8.7B N.Y.-N.J. tunnel project due to budget issues
• NJ Transit returns $4M from Hudson River tunnel study
• Federal agency commits $200 million toward mass transit tunnel linking N.J., N.Y.
• Opinion: Planned Hudson River rail tunnel isn't perfect, but it's good
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