The release of the “Record of Decision” by the Federal Transportation Administration officially completes the project’s extensive environmental review process. The approval allows the state to seek and receive the federal funds necessary for permitting NJ TRANSIT to award contracts for various components of the $8.6 billion project.

Beachem acknowledged the strong leadership roles played by Governor Corzine, State Department of Transportation Commissioner Stephen Dilts, Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, all the members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Anthony Coscia and Deputy Executive Director Susan Bass Levin, as well as the Executive Director and staff of NJ TRANSIT.

The Alliance for Action along with New York Building Congress lead by Richard Anderson has spear-headed a broad-based coalition of business, labor, environmentalists and transit advocates to support this project.

The new Mass Transit Tunnel will increase capacity by approximately 46 percent above the current levels, thereby ensuring that New Jersey commuters will have better and increased access to New York City.

In addition to two new side-by-side single-track tunnels, the project will create new station capacity in Manhattan designed specifically for commuter rail service with wider platforms and more escalators. The new tracks will provide direct access to NYC subway lines. PATH trains and existing Penn Station services.

The project will also create one-seat (direct) commutes to New York for NJ TRANSIT customers on seven commuter rail lines – Main/Bergen County, Port Jervis, Pascack Valley, Montclair-Boonton west of Montclair State University, Morris & Essex west of Dover, Raritan Valley, and North Jersey Coast south of Long Branch, as well as future rail expansion lines.

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