Will N.Y.-N.J. Summit Kickstart America's Most Important Rail Project?

Peter Rogoff, the acting undersecretary of transportation, urged New York and New Jersey to agree to plans to advance Amtrak Gateway, the $15 billion Hudson River tunnels which he called the most important rail project in the country.

1 minute read

June 22, 2015, 8:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


In addition to securing funds, the two states need to agree to a plan to replace the twin, aging 105-year-old tunnels under the Hudson River that Amtrak and NJ Transit use to access New York's Penn Station, no easy task since Gov. Chris Christie canceled the prior plan known as Access to the Region's Core (ARC) in October 2010. 

hudson rail tunnels

Credit: U.S. Department of Transportation

At the May 9 summit, organized by the Regional Plan Association and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey"a top official from the Obama administration called Amtrak's proposed Gateway tunnel between northern New Jersey and Manhattan 'the most important rail project in the United States,'" writes Meir Rinde for NJ Spotlight. 

Peter Rogoff, the acting undersecretary of transportation, said the two states must act immediately to advance a plan, sparking attendees’ hopes that the highly complex, expensive, long-stalled project might finally get underway.

Some conference participants mused about creating a new organization or coalition that could carry the project forward for the decade it would take to design and bore two new tunnels, expand Penn Station, replace the obsolete Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River, and build out other connected infrastructure.

The fate of the ARC project showed the risk in having a local agency run a huge project of national interest, so the federal rail system’s involvement is an encouraging sign, said Thomas Wright, president of the Regional Plan Association.

Wright goes on to pitch for a stronger role to be played by Amtrak. Of course, this was just a few days prior to the disastrous Philadelphia derailment that left eight dead, casting some doubt on the rail system's operation.

Rogoff stressed that local stakeholders must figure out a plan quickly, given that Obama leaves office in fewer than 20 months," concludes Rinde. "Agencies are already discussing how they will work together, Wright said."

Tuesday, June 16, 2015 in NJ Spotlight

portrait of professional woman

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 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 Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience

Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

5 hours ago - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Entrance sign for San Jose-Santa Clara Regional wastewater treatment facility.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action

As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

7 hours ago - * A Placemaking Journal

Rendering of Penrose Roundabout in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts

Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

April 27 - WHYY