Dear Editor:
Past history tells us that President Warren Harding and Congress announced support for construction of the New York Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel on August 23, 1921. On July 1, 1922 President Harding and Congress approved the Port Authority’s Comprehensive Plan for the development of the New York Port District. This included construction of one or more tunnels between New Jersey railroad waterfront terminals to allow freight movement east to the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. The number one justification for creation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was to construct these tunnel(s).
One hundred and one years later, all we have to show is a series of feasibility studies and a federal NEPA Environmental Impact Statement. The environmental review process has been moving slower than a snail for years. This is funded by a $70 million for advancing an environmental study for the Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel within the Port Authority of NY & NJ 2017 – 2026 Capital Plan. This leaves a $9.930 billion shortfall to complete this project. New York Congress member Jerald Nadler continues to claim that there is real progress for this favorite project. He has championed this as his number one transportation priority for thirty years.
After all that time, it is still stuck in the federal National Environmental Protect Act review process. In theory, it might move thousands of trucks on a daily basis off the roads and on to railroad tracks for portions of the journey between New Jersey and Long Island. It reminds me of the long forgotten proposed tunnel between 69th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and St. George, Staten Island. The concept was to extend subway service from Brooklyn to Staten Island. Ground was broken with entrances at both ends in the 1920’s, but the project quickly ran out of money and was abandoned to history. Flash forward 101 years later and we have the proposed “Cross Harbor” rail freight tunnel project.
Construction of any new freight, public transportation tunnel or bridge project can take years, if not decades, by the time all feasibility studies, environmental reviews, planning, design, engineering, real estate acquisition, permits, procurements, construction, budgeting, identifying and securing funding is completed. This is before the project reaches beneficial use.
Who will find $10 billion or more needed for construction of a new Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel? Neither the Port Authority, Congressmember Nadler or New York Governor Hochul have yet to identify and secure the billions needed to fund final design and engineering followed by construction. The Port Authority also needs to find $7 billion toward the $10 billion total cost for a new Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, along with billions more for other transportation investments.
It is wishful thinking that the Port Authority can count on billions in future federal funding to make up the difference. Don’t be surprised in waiting until future Port Authority ten year 2027 – 2036 and 2037 – 2046 Capital Plans are approved before a complete $10 billion or more funding package is in place This is necessary to support awarding construction contracts.
You may never live long enough to see completion of any Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel in your lifetime.
Larry Penner
(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office)
