CORY A. BOOKER sure soa United States Senate August 10, 2017 Acting Administrator Heath Hall Steven H. Santoro U,S. Department of Transportation Executive Director Federal Railroad Administration NI TRANSIT 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE One Penn Plaza East Washington, DC 20590 Newark, NJ 07105 Dear Acting Administrator Hall and Mr, Santoro: I write in regard to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation prepared by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and NJ TRANSIT for the Hudson Tunnel Project. I strongly support the construction of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, thereby increasing the reliability of passenger rail service in the region, strengthening the resiliency of the Northeast Corridor (NEC), and providing much-needed relief to an overburdened transportation network In addition to the construction of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River from New Jersey to Penn Station New York, the Hudson Tunnel Project also evaluates the reconstruction of the existing North River Tunnel. As you know, the two-track North River Tunnel, which is over 100 years old and was inundated by saltwater during Superstorm Sandy, is in dire need of comprehensive rehabilitation. The North River Tunnel, a lifeline and the only Hudson River crossing on the NEC, is operating at capacity to meet current demand, yet still has become a bottleneck of delays in recent years. A shutdown of just one of the tubes of the existing North River Tunnel will severely reduce capacity from 24 to 6 trains per hour, disrupting service for hundreds of thousands of rail passengers on Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT NEC trains. The North River Tunnel must be revitalized in order to preserve the competence of the busiest rail corridor in the nation. While this project is of eritical importance to the region, itis also a project of national significance. The Northeast Corridor moves a workforce that contributes $50 billion annually to our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Loss of service on the NEC would result in a loss of $100 million a day in economic productivity. As outlined in the DEIS, when the Hudson Tunnel Project is complete and the North River Tunnel is in service, the NEC will be served by four tracks for the Hudson River crossing between New Jersey and New York. Without the completion of this project, the commuting public will continue to be subject to extreme overcrowding, major delays, and adverse economic impacts as commuters in the workforce spend more time traveling to and from work. I thank the FRA and NJ TRANSIT for their diligent efforts to evaluate and compile the DEIS for the Hudson Tunnel Project, and for their efforts to advance the vital Gateway Program, Our region simply cannot afford to take no action. I see the Gateway Project, which includes the Hudson Tunnel Project and the replacement of the Portal Bridge in New Jersey, as one of themost urgently needed infrastructure projects in the nation. This Hudson Tunnel Project will improve service reliability by reducing delays and enhancing existing outdated infrastructure. In conclusion, the project as evaluated in the DEIS will enhance the reliability of Trans-Hudson, River commuter rail and provide relief to an already overburdened region. A rehabbed North River tunnel and new Hudson Tunnel will enhance the resiliency of the region’s transportation network as well as the resiliency of the Northeast Region. While this is a project that requires the partnership of agencies and entities at all levels of government, [ can assure you that itis not a partisan issue. Commuters in New Jersey, and my constituents, want solutions to the problems and delays that they face each day. I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to advance this project, work to identify and secure the necessary resources, and eventually see project underway for the betterment of the region and the nation. Sincerely, United States Senator