NEW YORK, NY March 05, 2009 —The largest "Shovel Ready" project in the nation is here in Manhattan, and it cleared a small hurdle last night. Community Board Four, which covers West Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen, gave its approval to the Port Authority's plan to build a $9 billion passenger rail tunnel under the Hudson River. The project would mean the construction of two ventilation fan towers in CB-4's territory. A neighboring community board, CB-5, is scheduled to vote on the project as well, because it would be home to other ventilation towers AND an underground train terminal slated for Herald Square.

The Port Authority says it expects to start construction on the New Jersey side this May with a completion date some time in 2017.