Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

marmar

(76,985 posts)
Wed May 7, 2014, 11:09 AM May 2014

NY: Clock ticking on Hudson crossings, Amtrak warns


[font size="1"]Railroad tracks leading to New York City’s Penn Station from under the Hudson River. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)[/font]

The end may be near for the New York region's cross-harbor rail tunnels, with no good alternative in sight.

“I’m being told we got something less than 20 years before we have to shut one or two down,” said Amtrak C.E.O. Joseph Boardman at the Regional Plan Association’s conference last week at the Waldorf Astoria. “Something less than 20. I don’t know if that something less than 20 is seven, or some other number. But to build two new ones, you’re talking seven to nine years to deliver, if we all decided today that we could do it."

Tom Wright, the Regional Plan Association’s executive director, described Boardman’s remarks as “a big shock.”

“I’ve been hearing abstractly people at Amtrak and other people at New Jersey Transit say for years the tunnels are over 100 years old and we have to be worried about them,” he said. “To actually have Joe put something concrete on the table, less than 20 years … Within my office, there was a level of, ‘Wow, this is really serious.'” ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/05/8544757/clock-ticking-hudson-crossings-amtrak-warns



4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
NY: Clock ticking on Hudson crossings, Amtrak warns (Original Post) marmar May 2014 OP
I'm not from the area, but didn't Governor Christie cancel a big tunnel project there? Firebrand Gary May 2014 #1
A-yup. KamaAina May 2014 #2
When Will The Idea That Republicans Can't Be Trusted With Infrastructure Sink In? Vogon_Glory May 2014 #3
To Tell You How Horrible The R's Have Become Vogon_Glory May 2014 #4
 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
2. A-yup.
Wed May 7, 2014, 11:52 AM
May 2014

The existing tunnels are at capacity. The new tunnels would have relieved the congestion. But we can't have that, can we? If everyone's riding the train, who'd notice that the entrance to the GWB was blocked?

Vogon_Glory

(9,085 posts)
3. When Will The Idea That Republicans Can't Be Trusted With Infrastructure Sink In?
Wed May 14, 2014, 11:42 AM
May 2014

When will the idea that Republicans can't be trusted to build, expand, or maintain physical infrastructure sink in with the electorate? Amtrak's decaying rail network (and the aging of its passenger coaches) and the older US highway bridges of the Northeast are only the tips of the icebergs of impending collapse.

If the electorate chose their candidates to represent their interests instead of voting for candidates who (A) play on their fears or (B) appear the most photogenic, the country would be ready to re-enter the first rank of the world's advanced industrialized countries.

At this point I have little patience not only for Republicans, but the apathetic voters who don't pay attention, the idjits who treat elections like American Idol contests, and the alienated centrists who have woken up to the fact that Republicans don't represent their interests yet continue to believe the swill put out by Faux Noise network and other right-wing propaganda organs.

Vogon_Glory

(9,085 posts)
4. To Tell You How Horrible The R's Have Become
Wed May 14, 2014, 03:05 PM
May 2014

To tel you how horrible the Republicans have become with infrastructure, I almost miss Trent Lott and Kay Bailey Hutchison, neither of whom could be considered progressive, but supported Amtrak more than the current bunch of Republicans.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Public Transportation and Smart Growth»NY: Clock ticking on Huds...