Cuomo Accuses Trump Of 'Political Posturing' After Gateway Snub

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused President Donald Trump of playing politics with a critical infrastructure project that could cost the national economy billions if it fails to be completed.

The Trump Administration's 2020 budget proposal recommends allocating no federal funds toward the Gateway project, which Cuomo called "political posturing."

"Laughably, they claim that funding the Gateway project is the sole responsibility of local officials - even though Amtrak owns the tunnel. These ridiculous claims should not be taken seriously. What should be taken seriously, however, are the consequences if we don't move forward on the project expeditiously," Cuomo said in a statement.

The national economy could suffer a $16 billion loss over four years and New York and New Jersey home prices could plummet $22 billion if the Hudson River rail tunnels need to be unexpectedly shut down for repairs, the RPA states in its new report "A Preventable Crisis: The Economic and Human Costs of a Hudson River Rail Tunnel Shutdown."

The Hudson River tunnels, which opened more than 100 years ago, currently service all Amtrak and NJ Transit passenger trains between New Jersey and Penn Station. Should the tunnels need to shut down, 38,000 NJTransit riders would be unable to rely on rail service to commute into the city.

"Inaction would be catastrophic not just for the region but for the entire national economy. The Trump Administration must stop playing political games and holding this funding hostage. If the federal government refuses to fund this project, then the President will have to answer to the travelers and businesses across the Northeast who rely on this critical transit corridor," Cuomo's statement continued.

Under President Barack Obama, the federal government agreed to split the cost of rebuilding the tunnels with the states of New York and New Jersey. But the Trump administration reneged on that deal, putting the project's future in question. In a letter sent to New York Gov. Andrew Como and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Trump's Federal Transit Administration said it would back out of a plan to split the costs of the $13 billion project 50/50 between the states and federal government.

In March 2018, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao revealed that Trump is actively trying to block federal funding for the project.

The current tunnels carry Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains under the Hudson River. Building a new tunnel and replacing the existing tunnels is expected to cost $12.9 billion, according to an environmental impact statement published in 2017.

In addition to building two new tunnels under the Hudson River, the Gateway project also calls for the repair of the existing Hudson River tunnels and the modernization of the often-troubled Portal Bridge in New Jersey. The construction of a new train hall in the former James A. Farley post office building across the street from Penn Station will allow Amtrak and NJ Transit to run increased train service through the new tunnels.