Rep. Sherrill Highlights Gateway Tunnel Project Alongside Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Booker, Congressional Colleagues

Press Release

Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) joined Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), fellow Members of Congress including Reps. Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Donald Payne (NJ-10), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), and key transportation officials to highlight the Gateway Tunnel Project and demonstrate the need for federal investment in this critical portion of the Northeast Rail Corridor.

To kick off the day's events, Rep. Sherrill accompanied Secretary Buttigieg in his car, as they and other officials boarded a train at Newark Penn Station and crossed through the current Hudson River Tunnel system to observe the current state of this aging infrastructure. Upon arrival at New York Penn Station, the officials held a press conference together to outline the future of the Gateway Tunnel and announce next steps for the crucial project. In addition to the train ride and press conference, Rep. Sherrill participated in a meeting with other members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation and Secretary Buttigieg to address the infrastructure needs of the region and discuss the delegation's priorities.

"I was thrilled to have Secretary Buttigieg join us to experience the transit needs of our region first-hand and highlight how critical the Gateway Tunnel Project is," said Rep. Sherrill. "The lines in the current Hudson River Tunnel system are over 100 years old. The national economy would suffer a major blow if just one of the Hudson River Tunnels collapsed. After years of fighting for the completion of the Gateway Tunnel, it's heartening to now have allies like President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg in the White House and Department of Transportation, as we're poised to finally make the infrastructure investments that are so sorely needed. We have a once in a generation opportunity here, and I look forward to the day that we're standing together cutting the ribbon on a completed Gateway Tunnel Project."

"Look no further than the Gateway Tunnel Project to demonstrate how imperative investing in our aging infrastructure is," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "The impacts of this corridor are so great that if there were a loss of service -- if one of these tunnels were to go out of service, you would be feeling the economic impact all the way back in Indiana, where I come from. That's how important this is. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has been on the frontlines fighting to invest in our infrastructure, and with help from her tireless advocacy we're one step closer to making it happen."

Currently, a century-old Hudson River tunnel connects 200,000 commuters every day between New Jersey and New York. Amtrak uses it to connect 20 train routes across the country. Considered the Achilles heel of the Northeast Rail Corridor, the current tunnel system was severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy. A shutdown of the tunnel could cost the US economy $16 billion over 4 years. The Gateway Tunnel project would modernize and improve the Northeast Corridor system and minimize the risk of a potentially catastrophic failure that would impact the entire country.

Source