Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced Wednesday morning that federal funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project has finally begun to flow again, following a successful legal challenge by the State of New Jersey against federal efforts to halt the work.
Speaking in Flemington, Sherrill confirmed that the project—which had seen its progress stalled due to a freeze on authorized funds—is now moving back into an active phase. Sherrill described the federal government’s previous attempts to block the project as a direct hit on the regional economy.
The governor emphasized that the Gateway Tunnel is not merely a local transit project but a vital artery for the entire United States. The Governor highlighted several key figures to underscore the project’s magnitude:
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Job Creation: Currently employs 1,000 workers, with the potential to create 100,000 regional jobs.
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Economic Impact: Projected to generate $20 billion in economic activity.
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National GDP: The Northeast Corridor region is responsible for roughly 20% of the nation’s GDP.
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Commuter Reliability: Over 200,000 daily commuters depend on the tunnels to fuel regional business.
The governor noted that while the state was ultimately successful in court, the federal delays have caused tangible harm. Prior to the funding freeze, the project was reportedly on time and on budget.
“We took the federal government to court because I care deeply about jobs and the economy,” Sherrill stated. “He [the President] has probably cost the project millions of dollars by halting all this work. He’s put a lot of workers at risk, who had to go home and tell their families they think they’re out of a job, who worried about their healthcare.”
With the funds now being released, the state’s priority is returning the workforce to the site to prevent further escalation of costs. Despite the current victory, the Governor noted that the state remains engaged in ongoing legal proceedings to ensure that federal commitments to the project are upheld without further interference.
The project is now focused on making up for lost time to ensure the new tunnel under the Hudson River remains a reality for the hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans who rely on it.
