The Tunnel
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The Tunnel |
ACCESS TO THE REGION'S CORE PROJECT FOR A NEW TRANS-HUDSON EXPRESS RAIL TUNNEL ---------------- HOW YOU CAN HELP The new trans-Hudson rail tunnel (THE Tunnel) project has cleared a significant milestone with Federal approval of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) approval was published in the Federal Register on November 8. Following a 30-day comment period, the FTA can issue a record of decision, which will formally conclude the environmental study process, making the tunnel project eligible to receive federal matching funds. THE Tunnel project is vital to the future of the Northeast and the New Jersey Alliance for Action calls on the FTA to issue its record of decision as soon as possible after expiration of the 30-day comment period. Increasing transit capacity across the Hudson River between Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey is critical to alleviating growing congestion, advancing the economic competitiveness of the region and contributing to the region's recovery from the current economic downturn. Building THE Tunnel is the right solution to accomplish those goals. Today, the Northeast rail system, connecting New York, New Jersey, Washington and Boston, strains under the limitations of 100-year-old, one-track-in-one-track-out rail infrastructure crossing the Hudson River. This infrastructure is already at capacity and the problem will only get worse as the region's population grows by over two million by 2025. THE Tunnel directly addresses the demands created by this level of regional growth. A $8.7 billion project, THE Tunnel includes a state-of-the-art, two-track tunnel under the Hudson River connecting Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey, as well as new station capacity under 34th Street adjacent to the current Penn Station. THE Tunnel will reduce travel time, relieve facility crowding, and produce immediate and long-term economic benefits for New York and New Jersey. To date, THE Tunnel has garnered strong support from a broad coalition of elected officials on both sides of the River and from leaders of labor, business, environmental, planning, tourism and transportation groups. Going forward, however, your help is needed to build on this momentum and support the start of construction in 2009. What you can do: -Learn more about THE Tunnel and the ARC project at arctunnel.com -Contact your local, state and federal elected officials in New York and New Jersey and urge them to support THE Tunnel project. -Use the key points below to submit written comments in support of THE Tunnel to NJ TRANSIT on the ARC FEIS. Written comments must be submitted by close of business December 8, 2008, to: Mr. Tom Schulze, ARC Project Director, NJ TRANSIT, One Penn Plaza East, 8th Floor, Newark, NJ 07105-2246, or email tschulze@njtransit.com. KEY POINTS: -THE Tunnel will more than double AM and PM peak hour train service and provide a 70 percent increase in weekday commuter trips. -Customer convenience and reduced travel time will be enhanced by more one-seat ride service. Facility crowding will be alleviated by a new 34th Street station between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, with passenger connections to Penn Station, PATH and subway stations. -THE Tunnel will furnish the necessary redundancy for boosting regional security and eliminate commuter rail delays caused by unanticipated events or routine maintenance. -Improved rail service will attract new riders, reduce roadway congestion, and make the air cleaner. Significant economic benefits of THE Tunnel include: -direct on-site employment of nearly 59,900 construction jobs and total employment of nearly 98,300 jobs (on-site jobs plus direct, indirect and induced jobs that would supply the construction effort); -over $1.5 billon in local, state and federal taxes; -almost $4 billion in personal income; and -over $9 billion in business activity. |