Investment Clawed Back from Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Gottheimer Helped Write & Pass

Key to Gateway Train Tunnel Completion For Rail Tunnel Between NJ and NY

Today, January 31, 2023, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) is helping announce a new $292 million federal investment clawed back from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to help build the Hudson River Tunnel — a key step to completing the Gateway Train Tunnel. Gottheimer is joining President Joe Biden and other federal and state leaders at the West Side Rail Yard in New York City today.

Gottheimer helped craft and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which will fund a major portion of the Tunnel, including the Hudson River Tunnel and Portal North Bridge, invest in New Jersey’s ports, roads, rails, and bridges, address supply chain issues, create jobs, and boost our local economy.

The Gateway Tunnel will connect 20% of the nation’s GDP between New York and New Jersey. The current tunnel between the two states is more than 110 years old and if it were to crumble, it would cost the regional economy $100 million a day. 

In 2020, passengers experienced hundreds of hours of delays on more than fifty days in the year due to problems caused by aging tunnel infrastructure. In 2012, millions of gallons of salt water flooded into the tunnel during Superstorm Sandy — damaging critical infrastructure that affects service today. 

The Hudson Tunnel Project will:

• Allow rehabilitation to the existing more than 100-year-old North River Tunnel — the only passenger rail tunnel connecting New Jersey and New York.
• Build a new tunnel beneath the Palisades, the Hudson River, and the waterfront area in Manhattan.
• Create 72,000 good-paying jobs with union partnerships for job training. 
• Improve service for more than 200,000 passengers on NJ Transit and Amtrak.
• Boost the economy, strengthen supply chains, and improve commutes for North Jersey residents.

“After years of hard work, this is a huge win for Jersey to finally begin work on the Hudson River Tunnel project — a key step to completing the Gateway Train Tunnel. This tunnel is a top priority for the completion of the Gateway Train Tunnel and it will help residents spend more time with their families by commuting on faster, more reliable trains, create new jobs, and ensure Jersey’s economy is stronger and safer — by removing our reliance on a more than 100-year-old-tunnel plagued with bottlenecks and delays,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Projects like this are exactly why I fought to help write and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and claw back critically-needed federal investments back from Washington to Jersey. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill will invest in New Jersey’s ports, roads, rails, and bridges, help build the Gateway Tunnel, address supply chain issues, create millions of jobs, and boost our local economy.”

###