NEWARK, N.J. — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both Democrats, said they successfully appropriated $75 million towards the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) project – more than five times the amount dedicated last year – further advancing the engineering of two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River.
“The unwavering support from senators Lautenberg and Menendez for this critical project will help provide relief to the state’s transportation system,” N.J. Gov. Jon S. Corzine said. “We applaud their efforts to secure record levels of appropriations for this project.”
“This funding is keeping the ARC Tunnel project moving towards a full funding grant agreement from the Federal Transit Administration,” said N.J. Transit Executive Director Richard Sarles. “The Senators have worked tirelessly to support the project.”
The ARC program includes two new single-track railroad tunnels between New Jersey and New York, additional Penn Station capacity under 34th Street in Manhattan, and signal and track improvements along and adjacent to the Northeast Corridor.
The project will allow for the introduction of one-seat rail service to New York on the Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Raritan Valley lines, the Montclair Boonton line west of Montclair, North Jersey Coast Line south to Bay Head, as well as the Morristown Line west of Dover. It will also create the capacity for future rail extensions.
The project includes expanded station capacity for New York Penn Station under 34th Street, with underground connections to several New York City subway lines (A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, V, W, 1, 2, 3, and PATH trains.)
