Under pressure from DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, N.J. Gov. Chris Christie has authorized the Hudson River rail tunnel project known as ARC: Access to the Region's Core, to resume work. Key to the decision would have been the loss of $3 billion to N.J.
Sen. Lautenberg released this press report as soon as it was know of Christie's reversal after his meeting with LaHood.
"The Secretary was clear with Governor Christie: if this tunnel doesn't get built, the three billion dollars will go to other states. We can't allow that to happen," Lautenberg said.
Lautenberg was amongst the most vocal to react to the initial news of the Governor's halting the project in a press release Thursday (Oct. 7):
"Killing the ARC Tunnel will go down as one of the biggest public policy blunders in New Jersey's history. Without increased transportation options into Manhattan, New Jersey's economy will eventually be crippled," Senator Lautenberg said.
That decision was strongly criticized by NYT columnist Paul Krugman on Friday: "The End of the Tunnel": "So this was a terrible, shortsighted move from New Jersey's point of view. But that's not the whole cost. Canceling the tunnel was also a blow to national hopes of recovery, part of a pattern of penny-pinching that has played a large role in our continuing economic stagnation."
Thanks to Shannon Tracey
FULL STORY: Lautenberg: It's Time To Put The Tunnel Back On Track
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