Officials slam halt of New Jersey rail tunnel work

After New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stalled the project over cost concerns, a local lawmaker is suggesting a $2 surcharge on commuter fares to raise funds for a new underground rail tunnel that would traverse the Hudson River, Website njtoday.net reports.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak
also suggested the formation of a public-private partnership, which could pass
ownership of the tunnel over to a private corporation after it is built with at
least $8.7 billion in taxpayer money.

Christie called a halt to
work on the rail tunnel into New York in a move Sen. Robert Menendez called
playing politics with a project that is vital to the region’s economy.

"To miss this
opportunity would be a huge mistake," Menendez said as he stood in North
Bergen in front a massive earth mover sitting idle atop a pile of dirt where
work has started where the new tunnel would pass underground. "I don’t
think it’s time to waver, it’s time to commit." So far, $600 million has
been spent, according to Democratic lawmakers who warned the state is in
jeopardy of losing $3 billion committed by the federal government.

In addition to New Jersey’s
part, the federal government and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
have each committed $3 billion to the project, which is the largest
transportation grant of its kind ever given.

"Every other state is
waiting to get their mitts on our hard-earned money," said U.S. Sen. Frank
Lautenberg, who joined Menendez in assailing Christie for stopping work.
"We don’t want to be just another parking lot for New York City, and
that’s what’ll happen if we don’t get this tunnel under way."

The tunnel, scheduled to be
completed in 2018, is the largest federal transportation project in the country
and expected to double train traffic in and out of New York during peak commute
times, from 23 to 48 trains.

Officials have estimated it
will create 6,000 construction jobs and add at least 40,000 new jobs after it
is completed.

However, critics point out
that the new tunnel will not be used by Amtrak since it will not link up with
New York’s Penn Station. There are also concerns that the project could go over
budget by a billion dollars or more.