Work begins on nation's largest mass transit project

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The largest mass transit project in the country got under way Monday with the help of federal stimulus dollars, as public officials broke ground on a second passenger rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River.

The new tunnel will link New Jersey with New York and eventually will double capacity on the nation's busiest rail corridor, running from Washington to Boston, Massachusetts, officials said.

...

"As we start digging this tunnel, I think that what really it means, we are digging our way out of an economic crisis," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey. "As we're getting under way, we're seeing the dividends of the Recovery Act being paid right now."

The Department of Transportation announced Monday that it will commit $3 billion to the project over its lifespan. Of that, $130 million is coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the department said..

...

The project -- known as ARC, for Access to the Region's Core -- is expected to create 6,000 design and construction jobs.

"This is going to promote mobility, reduce commuter congestion, staunch carbon emissions, enhance regional competitiveness and lay a foundation for an extraordinary expansion of mass transit in the most densely populate state in the nation, New Jersey," New Jersey Gov. John Corzine said.

New Jersey Transit says 170,000 passengers now travel through the existing train tunnel beneath the Hudson River to New York each day. When completed, the second tunnel will enable that figure to increase to 255,000 passenger trips. The additional passengers will disembark at a new concourse to be built at Penn Station in New York, 150 feet below street level.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/08/newyork.r...nnel/index.html

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Way to go Obama. Bush would never have helped with this type of project.

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Way to go Obama. Bush would never have helped with this type of project.

Actually, the Bush admin was on board with this as well. They're the reason this project moved beyond the planning stages.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Way to go Obama. Bush would never have helped with this type of project.

Actually, the Bush admin was on board with this as well. They're the reason this project moved beyond the planning stages.

Ah, so you are a Republican.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Way to go Obama. Bush would never have helped with this type of project.

Actually, the Bush admin was on board with this as well. They're the reason this project moved beyond the planning stages.

Ah, so you are a Republican.

I'm no terrorist.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Way to go Obama. Bush would never have helped with this type of project.

Actually, the Bush admin was on board with this as well. They're the reason this project moved beyond the planning stages.

Ah, so you are a Republican.

I'm no terrorist.

You voted for Bush. Twice.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

boom!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

boom!

I knew it. You've been trying to fool us.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Way to go Obama. Bush would never have helped with this type of project.

Actually, the Bush admin was on board with this as well. They're the reason this project moved beyond the planning stages.

Ah, so you are a Republican.

I'm no terrorist.

You voted for Bush. Twice.

Eh, the alternative choices were two crybabies, so...

[NickD 203]

"The new tunnel will link New Jersey with New York"

Is that so the unemployed from NJ can go to NY while NY unemployed can go to NJ to attempt to find jobs?

Same with linking Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago together, yeah I know I am dumb and shortsighted with these projects and lack the visions of our leaders, just have a difficult time understanding their thinking on these expensive projects.

A really stupid idea I have is bring our jobs back into this country. Yeah, I know it's a dumb idea. But wasn't moving these jobs out of our country the cause of today's problems?

And what about forming an EPA that solves rather than ship problems overseas?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Is that so the unemployed from NJ can go to NY while NY unemployed can go to NJ to attempt to find jobs?

You should ride the NE Corridor between Trenton and NY Penn someday. It is packed. 200% capacity. If you try to get on at 8:30 at Metro Park you can't even board the train, people standing inside will just laugh at you. There's no room, sucka! Oh and parking lots are overflowing.

The point being, there is plenty of demand

[AlHayatZween 2]

i think it's a great idea... especially since the bridge & tunnel transit is so overcrowded as it is...

just hope regular people can get those jobs, and that hiring isn't limited to those already in the union who know somebody who know somebody...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Biden gaffe, already! And so stupid, even I knew the tunnel wasn't for automobile traffic, this dude must not read a newspaper.

When questioned by The Record of Bergen County about the Hudson River rail tunnel during a conference call on Monday, Biden said the new tunnel is "designed to provide for automobile traffic."

However, the tunnel will only handle commuter trains that shuttle passengers between New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.

Biden's office did not immediately respond to a request to clarify his comment.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Is that so the unemployed from NJ can go to NY while NY unemployed can go to NJ to attempt to find jobs?

You should ride the NE Corridor between Trenton and NY Penn someday. It is packed. 200% capacity. If you try to get on at 8:30 at Metro Park you can't even board the train, people standing inside will just laugh at you. There's no room, sucka! Oh and parking lots are overflowing.

The point being, there is plenty of demand

you ain't lyin...

Biden gaffe, already! And so stupid, even I knew the tunnel wasn't for automobile traffic, this dude must not read a newspaper.

When questioned by The Record of Bergen County about the Hudson River rail tunnel during a conference call on Monday, Biden said the new tunnel is "designed to provide for automobile traffic."

However, the tunnel will only handle commuter trains that shuttle passengers between New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.

Biden's office did not immediately respond to a request to clarify his comment.

he needs a new assistant

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Artist's rendering of the new platform at NY. Where the homeless people at?