by Rockingham Racer
Don't think it's about just the locals, i.e. commuters. Amtrak passengers moving through the tunnel, over and above commuters, might have a different view of its need and reliability. I am one of those.
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Rockingham Racer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:43 am Don't think it's about just the locals, i.e. commuters. Amtrak passengers moving through the tunnel, over and above commuters, might have a different view of its need and reliability. I am one of those.Again, relatively small numbers compared to 310M+ taxpayers who don't live in the NYC Metro area.
eolesen wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 1:25 am Yes, I'm sure folks within 100 miles of Manhattan might think Gateway is the most important issue facing the country as far as infrastructure goes, but there folks in 46 other states who might see their own projects as more worthy...NY and NJ are definitely not going to pay 100% for an asset that is controlled by Amtrak (read the Feds). It is just how the power struggles in politics work. They are more likely to agree on building a separate terminal and tunnel elsewhere than pay for 100% for this one. It is more likely that the states pay for extension of the 7 subway to Secaucus than paying 100% for an asset that they cannot use exclusively. Even if the tunnel caved or sprang a leak tomorrow, the states will not pay for the repair unless they gain 100% control of the tunnel. Let's hope that the existing tunnels have been much better maintained than the Hoosac tunnel and have much time left before the need total overhaul because federal money is not coming to NY/NJ for rail projects any time soon.
New York has invested $13B in terminal improvements at JFK alone, yet can't seem to find anything for the Gateway?
Just this week it was another $3.8B for JFK: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/govern ... mation-jfk
If NYS can find $13B for airport improvements, maybe it's time to hold Cuomo accountable and stop waiting for the Feds to pay up for rail.
eolesen wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 7:27 amThe tunnels are are core part of a regional economy (NY metro) which produces nearly 10% of US GDP -- the number is over 20% if you include the remainder of the corridor. I doubt tunnel failure would only be a small impact on our economy.Rockingham Racer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:43 am Don't think it's about just the locals, i.e. commuters. Amtrak passengers moving through the tunnel, over and above commuters, might have a different view of its need and reliability. I am one of those.Again, relatively small numbers compared to 310M+ taxpayers who don't live in the NYC Metro area.