For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Taylor.McFarland@sierraclub.org
The Biden Administration recently approved plans for the Gateway Tunnel Project which will build a new rail tunnel underneath the Hudson River connecting New York and New Jersey. The $11.6 billion project will also repair existing Amtrak- owned tunnels under the river.
“The Gateway Project is a win-win for the environment and economy. This project will replace and repair old tunnels and make our transportation system more resilient and efficient. More importantly, it will help get commuters to work and get more cars off the road. Since one train could take hundreds of cars off the road, we can see a major reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Taylor McFarland, Acting Director of the Sierra Club-NJ.
The project involves construction of a new Northeast Corridor rail tunnel under the river connecting to Penn Station rail hub in New York City and also rehabilitation of the existing North River Tunnel, which is more than 110 years old and was inundated with seawater during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
“Building these tunnels was unnecessarily delayed for the 4 years of the Trump administration, which refused to give the necessary approvals for this project, which will only result in increased delays for New Jersey’s commuters until the new tunnels are built,” said Bill Beren, Transportation Chair, Sierra Club. “We applaud the Biden administration’s quick action to get the needed approvals, and thank our Congressional delegation and Senators who continue to ensure that federal funding is made available.”