Editorial: Gov. Christie’s Tunnel Vision

(The following editorial appeared in the New York Times.) Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey has made a national name for himself by slashing spending on education and other vital services. New Jersey's children and other vulnerable residents are paying the price. Now he wants to stall - and perhaps cancel - one of the most important transportation projects in the country: a new railway tunnel under the Hudson River linking New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.

If Mr. Christie pulls out,
billions of dollars pledged by the federal government and the Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey will go elsewhere, thousands of new construction jobs
will be lost and the region’s economic future could be hobbled. That makes no
sense at all, especially for a governor who talks so passionately about the
need for economic growth.

For decades, planners have
called for another tunnel to relieve railroad congestion between New Jersey and
New York. Two years ago, construction finally began with $600 million, so far,
spent in tunneling and other work in New Jersey. To continue the project,
Washington has promised $3 billion. The Port Authority is coming up with
another $3 billion, about half of which is money normally dedicated to New York
State, and New Jersey is supposed to commit at least $2.7 billion in stimulus
and turnpike funds.

New Jersey Transit and
Amtrak trains using the old tunnel carry 170,000 passengers a day, and there is
no room for more trains, especially during peak hours. Planners predict that
over the next 20 years, ridership on New Jersey Transit will double, if there
is a way for the trains to move. The current plan for the tunnel would more
than double the rail capacity.

The Port Authority
estimates the project would create 6,000 construction jobs now – a boon for a
region and an industry mired in recession. Eventually it would remove 22,000
vehicles from the road. The authority also projects the added mobility will
bring $4 billion in personal income to the area, higher real estate values in
New Jersey and more good jobs in Manhattan.

Mr. Christie says he is
worried about cost overruns, a legitimate concern for any big public effort.
There are reports that he wants to use $1.25 billion of New Jersey’s planned
contribution for patching roads and highways. There will always be repair work
that needs doing. There will not always be a chance to vastly improve the
transit system – or get the federal government to kick in $3 billion. Gov.
Christie should support this project, not undermine it.