Massive tunnel-boring machine breaks ground on Gateway Project

The Trump administration revoked funding for the project in October 2025, and then restored it earlier this year.

1 minute read

September 30, 2026, 8:00 AM PDT

By Zachary Whalen


The tunnel-boring machine, a circular drill manned by people in high-vis yellow jackets.

The tunnel is part of a $16 billion series of rail improvements, and will carry 200,000 passengers daily. | Gov. Kathy Hochul

The 1,700-ton tunnel-boring machine that will carve the first new Hudson River rail tunnel in over a hundred years broke ground on Sept. 28, kicking off project that has been years in the making. The Trump administration briefly pulled funding for the Gateway Project last October, citing "’unconstitutional’ diversity, equity and inclusion principles,” Jose Martinez writes for The City Reporter.

The tunnel is part of a $16 billion series of rail improvements, and will carry 200,000 passengers on 450 New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains daily, Martinez writes. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she hopes the tunnel will be finished by 2034.

The City Reporter reports:

“Many thought this day would never come, a lot of fits and starts,” [Hochul] said at the North Bergen, N.J. tunnel portal. “But here we are, back right on schedule because we believe in getting things done with a sense of urgency.”

Monday, September 28, 2026 in The City Reporter

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

4 hours ago - Zachary Whalen

An Airo train driving towards the camera on a track. There is a forest behind it.

Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet

Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.

September 22, 2026 - Washington State Standard

Public land in Idaho. Most of the photo is a green field, with mountains and a forest in the distance.

Trump is considering data centers on 6 states' public land — some state officials say they had no idea

If the administration approves the proposed projects, data center and data center-related developments will cover 17,600 acres of public land.

September 20, 2026 - The Washington Sun

A group of smiling people cut a blue ribbon in front of Sacramento's new light rail station.

After decades of planning, Sacramento gains new light rail station

Trains will arrive every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak hours.

6 seconds ago - KCRA

The tunnel-boring machine, a circular drill manned by people in high-vis yellow jackets.

Massive tunnel-boring machine breaks ground on Gateway Project

The Trump administration revoked funding for the project in October 2025, and then restored it earlier this year.

1 hour ago - The City Reporter

An Airo train passes over a mostly-dried river in between two large forests.

Airo trainsets begin service on Amtrak Cascades route

The trains feature panoramic windows, complementary wifi and over 300 seats per train set.

2 hours ago - Mass Transit

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.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design