The Station Is On Time!

 On January 1st, Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced his latest achievement, the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Train Center.  Governor Cuomo is fulfilling his promise to redevelop the infrastructure of New York State. Within the last four years he has played a major role in the development and construction of the Second Avenue Subway (2017), the Mario Cuomo Bridge (2018), the Kosciuszko Bridge (2017-19), the reconstruction of the Robert Kennedy Bridge (2020), and the ongoing construction of new parking decks and terminals to create a new LaGuardia Airport. 

While praise must be given to Governor Cuomo, this story is not about him. It is really about a vision. A very large vision of mass transit that is starting to take shape. Others are involved in this process including two late senators, both towering figures in mass transit. They are Frank Lautenberg (1924-2013) and Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003). Thanks to Governor Cuomo and the advocacy of countless transit and planning organizations, the dreams of a better tri-state area are starting to occur. 

In my mind, Hudson Yards stands out as a symbol of a modern New York. In front of this new community is the New York Waterway Terminal, the vision of the late Arthur Imperatore, Sr. (1925-2020) and behind it is the Moynihan Train Center, the vision of educator and politician Daniel Patrick Moynihan. And what goes under this community is the legacy of Moynihan and Lautenberg.

It's fitting that two important senators Frank Lautenberg (NJ 1982-2013) and Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY 1977-2001), lobbyists for the ARC/Gateway train tunnel project and for regional mass transit train centers/stations are honored with stations that bare their names. The democratic colleagues in the United States Senate were strong advocates for infrastructure development. Their transit quest included fixing the Amtrak corridor from Newark Penn Station to New York Penn Station and improving regional rail traffic in Northern New Jersey and Metropolitan New York. The plan that came to be known as ARC (access to the region's core) was endorsed by both in various stages of its development.

The Moynihan Train Center was proposed by the senator during his first term. He wanted to replace the original Pennsylvania Station which was torn down and replaced by the current Madison Square Garden. Moynihan suggested using the Farley Post Office as an extension station. Nearly 40 years later, it has come to life with space for Amtrak and the Long Island Railroad. A proposed Penn Station South on 31st Street would create additional space for NJ Transit and the Long Island Railroad.

Lautenberg's plan took root much sooner. Though proposed later, the Lautenberg-Secaucus Junction Station (2003) connects all but two of New Jersey Transit's train lines and several bus lines.  This structure accommodates NJT trains from the north, west and south that are headed to New York or Hoboken. It also provides a pass through for Amtrak trains headed to New York or to Newark. Commuters can park and ride at the station and riders can switch trains for various destinations including Newark Liberty International Airport from the station. The next northward stop from Secaucus is New York City's Pennsylvania Station. The North River Tunnel, built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1910, connects the two states. 

For nearly three decades officials from New York and New Jersey have campaigned to replace the two tube North River Tunnel or build another tunnel(s) to ease the flow of traffic. According to Amtrak about 450 trains use the tunnel daily. It is one of the oldest and most used tunnels in the nation. Both are along the busy Northeast Corridor (the other is a Civil War era tunnel just outside of Baltimore). 

Limited federal funding was allocated during the Clinton administration but there were not not enough state funds to support construction. Revenues reappeared during the Obama years, and work began but Governor Christie cancelled the project. In 2012 Superstorm Sandy flooded the tunnels and raised greater concerns about its integrity.  

The tunnel is the next piece in the completion of the ARC concept. With a hope and some prayers a new tunnel will be built and be operational before 2030.  Possibly the Biden Administration will work with New York's and New Jersey's governors to make this dream a reality. If it does I bet two political angels will be smiling!

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