Amtrak Faces Political Setbacks as New York Withdraws Support

Amtrak is encountering new political resistance after New York withdrew support for its $1.6 billion tunnel restoration project beneath the East River. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul reversed course last month, just as Amtrak launched long-delayed repairs to tunnels damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Her administration sharply criticized the railroad’s plan to close the tunnels sequentially for two and a half years of work.

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Hochul urged Amtrak to switch to a “repair in place” strategy that would preserve peak-hour service by shifting construction to nights and weekends. She warned that full tunnel closures could harm commuter confidence and disrupt Long Island Rail Road service.

“The last thing I want to do is have a setback that can go on for years,” Hochul said. “So, I was very clear in my messaging to Amtrak: Don’t screw this up.”

Amtrak Faces Doubts Over Tunnel Project Execution

Amtrak’s standing has weakened since Donald Trump returned to the White House. Under President Biden, the railroad benefited from strong federal support, but now it faces budget cuts and downsizing.

Amtrak’s CEO Stephen Gardner stepped down in March after the new administration requested his resignation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later removed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from Penn Station’s redevelopment, placing Amtrak in charge.

New York’s transit officials interpreted this move as a slight, triggering further skepticism. MTA CEO Janno Lieber said Amtrak’s record caused concerns, referencing last summer’s service failures in New Jersey.

Tensions Grow Between Amtrak and New York Officials

Amtrak expressed disappointment with New York’s last-minute pivot. Laura Mason, executive vice president of capital project delivery, said both agencies had worked closely on the plan for years.

“We were surprised by this sudden disavowment of a plan that we had worked together on for a long time,” Mason told Politico.

Amtrak now faces mounting pressure to prove it can deliver major infrastructure projects without alienating key regional partners.

Source: www.newsmax.com

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