Calabrese Statement on the Trump Administration’s Withholding of Gateway Tunnel Project Funding

Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese (D-Bergen, Passaic), Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, issued the following statement today on the Trump Administration withholding funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project.

“Withholding funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project threatens the transportation backbone of the Northeast Corridor and the economic stability of the United States. This short-sighted decision by the Trump Administration risks critical rail service, thousands of infrastructure jobs, and the mobility of millions.

“The Hudson River tunnels are part of the busiest passenger rail corridor in the country, connecting Washington, D.C. to Boston and serving hundreds of thousands of daily riders. These tunnels carry both NJ Transit commuters and riders on Amtrak, our national passenger rail service. Disruptions here ripple across the entire system, impacting regional economies and national travel.

“More than 110 years old, the tunnels have faced persistent issues, especially following severe damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 whereby saltwater intrusion accelerated their deterioration, contributing to mounting delays, infrastructure failures, and safety risks.

“The Gateway Tunnel Project is not a partisan proposal. It is an essential national infrastructure investment that would expand capacity, improve reliability, and safeguard long-term transit operations along a corridor that accounts for over 20% of the nation’s GDP.

“With construction already underway, halting federal funds could stop progress immediately, disrupting contracts, displacing workers, and increasing long-term costs for taxpayers.

“I support the legal actions brought by the Gateway Development Commission, the State of New Jersey and the State of New York to enforce these federal commitments and keep this project on track.

“In December, I had the opportunity to tour the Gateway Tunnel Project construction sites on both sides of the Hudson River and witness the extraordinary work of the project’s engineers, laborers, and skilled tradespeople. The progress, precision, and importance of this project were evident.

“As Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, I will continue to advocate for smart infrastructure investments that protect jobs, grow our economy, and deliver safe, modern transit to those who rely on it every day.

“Transportation should never be a political pawn. The safety, prosperity, and mobility of our region and nation depend on finishing the Gateway Tunnel Project.”

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