WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak plans to spend at least $54 million to improve the safety of two train tunnels under the Hudson River connecting New Jersey and New York City, a wire service reported.
Congress voted last fall to give Amtrak $100 million to make improvements in six tunnels leading into and out of Manhattan. The money was part of a $20 billion anti-terrorism spending package.
New Jersey Sens. Robert Torricelli and Jon Corzine said Tuesday that Amtrak plans to spend more than half the money on the two tunnels connecting New Jersey with New York’s Penn Station. The balance will be spent on four tunnels under the East River.
Amtrak owns the six tunnels. The U.S. Transportation Department and the New York State Legislature have both issued reports highlighting numerous safety flaws in the tunnels.
They say ventilation would be inadequate in an emergency, a new water supply system is needed for firefighting, and fleeing passengers would have to share the same spiral staircases used by arriving emergency workers.
Experts say the tunnels may require $1 billion in repairs over the next decade.
Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit all use the tunnels. Some 350,000 people pass through the East River and Hudson River tunnels each day.
The lawmakers say Amtrak plans to spend nearly $3 million on an emergency communications system in the Hudson River tunnels, more than $1 million to improve security at entrances to the tunnels and more than $10.5 million for work by its engineering, fire and life safety personnel.