The project is primarily funded through federal agencies and will improve a key link between New Jersey and New York City.
The $16 billion Gateway Tunnel project under the Hudson River celebrated the last key piece of funding in the form of a $6.88 billion federal check, reports Colleen Wilson for NorthJersey.com, putting the project ‘past the point of no return.’ Roughly 70 percent of the project is funded through federal dollars.
“Federal, state and local transportation officials came together on a blistering, humid Monday morning to celebrate the occasion of awarding the largest federal grant in U.S. Department of Transportation history for what many have dubbed the most urgent infrastructure project in the country.” The new, two-track rail tunnel will complement repairs to the existing rail tunnel that links Newark, New Jersey to New York City, which suffered damages in Hurricane Sandy that frequently disrupt rail service.
Wilson notes that “While construction has already begun and additional bids are expected to be awarded later this year, the new tunnel is are not expected to be completed until 2035, and the renovation of the older tunnel won't be finished until 2038.”
FULL STORY: Gateway rail tunnel reaches 'point of no return' with $6.9 billion check
New Penn Station design won't move Madison Square Garden
Amtrak and federal officials agreed on a new plan for the station's redesign that may be largely funded by the federal government.
FRA Wants to Split Amtrak in 3, Sparking Privatization Fears
A proposal to restructure the rail agency could streamline accountability — or add more bureaucracy.
Judge Unfreezes NYC-to-NJ Gateway Tunnel Funds
Work on a new portion of the New York-to-New Jersey train tunnel was scheduled to halt last Friday if federal funds were not released.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association