Local Leaders Say Trump Must Commit to Hudson River Tunnel Project

Elected officials from New York and New Jersey are responding to reports that President Trump is personally lobbying Congress to not fund the proposed Gateway Tunnel project, linking Manhattan with Northern New Jersey. 

Hundreds of thousands of commuters would benefit from two additional Hudson River Tunnels. The growing number of delays in and out of Penn Station is partly due to congestion and disrepair in the existing tunnel.

But according to the Washington Post, President Trump is actively trying to persuade top members of congress to abandon an earlier agreement to help with the expected $30 billion cost.

Over the weekend, Representative Peter King, a Long Island Republican, urged Trump to reconsider, tweeting "Trump must keep his commitment to Gateway which he made in White House last September. Essential to New York & Northeast."

.@POTUS Trump must keep his commitment to Gateway which he made in White House last September. Essential to New York & Northeast. Can't let feud with Schumer hurt New York & United States. Bad enough we got screwed on tax bill.

— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) March 3, 2018

Bill Pascrell, a North Jersey Democratic Representative, said in a statement: “this is a dispiriting setback, but none of us will be deterred. We will fight and finish the job. Together.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy both support the tunnel project.