Photo Courtesy of Sen. Schumer
Senator Schumer said that “the MTA will commit up to a massive $432 million in rehabbing the East River Tunnels, which were badly-damaged during [Superstorm] Sandy.”
By Forum Staff
Announcing a ‘transit supercharge’ for two critical New York City, Bronx, Westchester and Long Island transportation projects—Penn Access and the East River Tunnels—U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) detailed the deal between the MTA and Amtrak to make substantial breakthroughs and progress on both projects.
Schumer said that because the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Bill passed the Senate, he was able to leverage new funding for Penn Access and the LIRR’s East River Tunnels. Schumer negotiated the deal between Amtrak and the MTA to advance both Penn Access, and its new rail line for transit-needy South and East Bronx, and the East River Tunnel rehab work, which is so vital to the hundreds of thousands of LIRR commuters.
“Critical New York City, Bronx and Long Island transit projects are getting supercharged today,” Schumer said. “Today’s agreement with Amtrak and the MTA will fast-track Penn Access, bringing a new mass transit line to the transit-starved Bronx, totaling four new stations. In addition, the agreement will break the logjam stalling the urgent need to repair and upgrade the Sandy-damaged East River Tunnels, which are vital to LIRR riders. Under the deal I brokered, which was made possible by the historic rail finding we delivered in the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Law, Amtrak will commit a huge, $500 million investment to the Penn Access new Metro North line in the Bronx. And the MTA will commit up to a massive $432 million in rehabbing the East River Tunnels, which were badly-damaged during Sandy and have been a priority project for me and for the hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders who depend on them every single day.”
Schumer said the East River Tunnels are a critical part of the transportation system across Long Island and in the New York metro area, carrying more than 300,000 passengers daily. Despite being maintained and operated by Amtrak, the four single track tunnels are a shared regional asset and provide invaluable service to both the railroad and major regional transit agencies. Superstorm Sandy badly damaged the East River Tunnels with approximately 14 million gallons of floodwaters. According to Amtrak reports, corrosive salts and chlorides from the storm continue to impact the tunnels’ underground structures. Over time, delays and breakdowns involving the East River Tunnels have increased and Schumer said that this problem will undoubtedly get worse if repairs are not made.
“The East River Tunnels provide a critical connection that allow millions of riders to travel through Queens into Manhattan. Whether they start their journey on the LIRR from Long Island, or will travel on Metro-North on the newly-funded Penn Access from the Bronx, Westchester or points further north, or come in via Amtrak, commuters count on the essential portals to get to midtown Manhattan,” said Gerard Bringmann, chairman of the LIRR Commuter Council and MTA Board member. “Thank you, Sen. Schumer for always keeping commuters first and helping New York build back better, and stronger.”
