(The following story by Larry Higgs appeared on the Asbury Park Press website on February 14.)
NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit’s board of trustees approved more than $2 million worth of contract amendments for consultants studying the proposed second Hudson River Tunnel and to replace a bridge in Jersey Meadows, but not before rail advocates suggested changes they contend would save $3 billion to $4 billion.
The board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a $1.99 million contract amendment for Transit Link Consultants of Little Falls for a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Trans-Hudson Express tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan, which brings the full contract to $24.2 million for that study.
They also authorized a $445,977 amendment with AKRF Inc. of Marlton to complete the draft environmental impact statement for replacement of the 100-year-old Portal Bridge, which brings that contract to a total of $5.765 million.
The two projects should be considered as one “mega project,” said David Peter Alan, chairman of the Lackawanna Commuter Coalition. The tunnel should be returned to the original concept of sending trains through it to Penn Station, New York, which Alan estimated could save about $3 billion to $4 billion on the two projects.
Current plans call for trains using the new tunnel to terminate at a station 20 stories under 34th Street. Original plans also would have extended tracks to Grand Central Station on Manhattan’s east side.
“All rail riders have a stake on how their money is spent to bring them closer to their office,” Alan said.
Rider Gary Duncan of Newark said he was concerned about the safety and security of such a deep station.
“This would be a terrorist’s delight,” Duncan said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to go that far down.”
Duncan also told the board that New York should provide funding for the tunnel, because New Jersey commuters will spend money in Manhattan and add to the economy. The tunnel is currently being funded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the federal government and New Jersey.
Other speakers, including a retired Long Island Railroad civil engineer, spoke in support of returning to the original tunnel plan, known as Access to the Region’s Core.
The contracts had to be amended to account for design changes made when the project was changed to the deep station under 34th Street, said Richard Sarles, NJ Transit executive director.
He said the project had to be changed to the deep station to avoid obstacles the new tunnel would have encountered if it had gone to Penn Station, such as a main water line, the No. 7 subway extension to the Javits Center, a bulkhead on the Hudson River and filling in the Hudson River shore at that area.
The Portal Bridge, which crosses the Hackensack River, has to be replaced so it doesn’t have to be opened to let marine traffic pass through, he said.
A public hearing on the Portal Bridge DEIS could be held in a month, Sarles said.