Amtrak stands to gain $15 million for preliminary engineering of two new Hudson River rail tunnels next year under a bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The new tunnels would allow Amtrak and NJ Transit to increase service during peak hours to New York City.
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey told The Record newspaper the project would create jobs, increase access to commuter trains, and bring real high-speed rail to New Jersey and the Northeast Corridor.
But the project might not leave the station because the House version of the measure does not include funding for the Amtrak tunnel.
Amtrak decided to accelerate its estimated $13.5 billion Gateway project after Gov. Chris Christie canceled NJ Transit's Hudson River tunnel project because of cost overruns.
Information from: The Record, http://www.northjersey.com
