Further enhancing the landmark ceremony was the announcement by Federal Transit Administrator Roger Rogoff of a funding agreement with the Obama Administration. It will provide $1.35 billion for the early stages of the project.

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Chairman Tony Coscia, center, Alliance for Action President Phil Beachem, right, and Alliance for Action Executive Vice President Jerry Keenan help break ground on the new $8.7 billion Mass Transit Tunnel.

Participants in the ceremony included Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez of New Jersey, U.S. Congressmen Payne, Pascrell, Rothman and Sires, Chairman Anthony Coscia of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NJ Transit Executive Director Richard Sarles and a host of state and local government officials and business and labor leaders.

Corzine reported that the tunnel, being built in partnership with the Port Authority, will generate 6,000 jobs during construction and is expected to create 44,000 permanent jobs.

Philip K. Beachem, President of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, which spearheaded a bi-state coalition to support the tunnel project, declared: “The Alliance has long worked to bring together business, labor, environmentalists and transit advocates to support this crucially needed tunnel and its jobs-generating capacity. After decades of planning and stalemate, there was no greater time to finally start than this economic crisis.”

Port Authority Chairman Coscia stated: “This start of work is a testament to cooperation among New Jersey, New York and Federal Officials working together.”

The tunnel will double trans-Hudson River rail capacity by adding two new single tracks, supplementing the existing two tracks opened in 1910 that are pushed to their limits each commuting day.