Map of the former Staten Island Railway South Beach line

The Northeast Corridor is an “asset of national importance” and requires significant upgrades in order ensure it remains in good working order, the head of Amtrak recently told a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Officials with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority laid out a proposal to its Board Wednesday, to address the $11.4 billion in budget deficits it faces over the next four years, and may include the first fare increase since April 2019.

While Amtrak has made progress in meeting its near‑term obligations for the Hudson Tunnel Project, it has opportunities to reduce its risk and help improve the overall project’s performance, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General found.