Gateway Project Tunnel Connecting NY and NJ Moves Forward as Former MTA Vet Takes the Helm
Former MTA Chief Tom Prendergast Takes the Reins of Gateway Tunnel Project
Even after announcing his retirement as head of the MTA on the day the Second Avenue Subway opened in 2017, Tom Prendergast figured he might not be done with transit megaprojects.
“In the back of my mind, I always knew that if an opportunity availed itself, I was going to take advantage of it,” Prendergast told THE CITY Wednesday.
Now the former MTA chief executive — who also led New York City Transit and the Long Island Rail Road during more than 20 years with North America’s largest public-transit authority — has another mammoth project on his plate as the new head of the Gateway Program, whose centerpiece is building a $16 billion rail tunnel in the Hudson River.
Prendergast was last month appointed chief executive officer of the Gateway Development Commission, the bi-state public authority whose tunnel construction project is at the heart of a network of passenger rail improvements between New York Penn Station and Newark Penn Station for 200,000 daily New Jersey Transit and Amtrak riders.
A New Challenge
At age 72, he’s taken the top job at a bi-state public authority, what is billed as “the most urgent major infrastructure program in the country.”
“To be involved in a signature project that brings that much value is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Prendergast said.
Five Gateway contracts have been awarded so far, including one on Prendergast’s first day for construction on the Manhattan side of the tunnel.
Positive Outlook
“It’s a massive public works project and it’s got all of the things you want in a public works project,” said Kate Slevin, executive vice president of the Regional Plan Association. “Not only is it good for the economy and job creation, but it’s also good for the environment and the quality of life here.”
Challenges Ahead
The project aims to build two passenger rail tubes within a single tunnel in the Hudson by 2035 and eventually rehabilitate the existing pair of 115-year-old tubes that were heavily damaged by flooding during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“Two out of three days of service, there is some kind of delay related to the infrastructure,” Prendergast said. “So that infrastructure needs to be upgraded and brought to a state of good repair.”
Gateway’s History
Gateway emerged after then-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in 2010 scrapped a Hudson River rail tunnel project known as Access to the Region’s Core.
Work has been underway in Hudson Yards for close to a decade on the segment of the new tunnel that will eventually connect with New York Penn Station. In addition, the bottom of the Hudson River is being stabilized for construction of a 1,200-foot-long concrete box which will allow two massive machines to cave out the New Jersey portion of the tunnel.
Transparency and Communication
While a significant portion of the project will be done largely out of view to the public, Prendergast said residents on both sides of the Hudson need to know of the importance of the work.
“Our job is to effectively communicate in a very transparent way all the work that’s going on so people see what that money is being spent on,” he said.
Uncertainties Ahead
A $12 billion commitment for federal funding is in place and several contracts have already been awarded for various components of The Gateway Program. Yet, questions remain over whether it could be slowed under President Donald Trump, whose first administration created some bureaucratic obstacles.
“We’ve seen in the past that these projects have bipartisan support because they deliver so many benefits for everyday riders and for the regional economy,” Slevin said.
Conclusion
As Prendergast takes the helm of the Gateway Program, he faces a daunting task: delivering a massive public works project while keeping the public informed and addressing the complex web of stakeholders involved. Despite the challenges ahead, Prendergast is confident that the project will bring significant benefits to the region and is worth the effort.
FAQs
- What is the Gateway Program?
The Gateway Program is a bi-state public authority responsible for building a $16 billion rail tunnel in the Hudson River to connect New York Penn Station and Newark Penn Station. - What is the goal of the Gateway Program?
The goal of the Gateway Program is to build two passenger rail tubes within a single tunnel in the Hudson by 2035 and eventually rehabilitate the existing pair of 115-year-old tubes that were heavily damaged by flooding during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. - What are the benefits of the Gateway Program?
The Gateway Program is expected to create 95,000 jobs during construction, generate billions of dollars in economic activity, and improve the quality of life for residents in the region.
