Closing Hudson River Amtrak Tunnels 'Can't Be Done,' Despite Damage

Transportation Nation | Oct 2, 2014

Amtrak in a new report said it needs to overhaul the tunnels that flooded during Sandy. And it will likely close the East River tunnels one at a time to do that.

But it added that it can't close either of the Hudson tunnels until an additional tunnel is built.

Tom Wright, executive director of the Regional Plan Association, an urban research and advocacy organization, said that's because closing the Hudson tunnels would have dire consequences for the region.

“That just can’t be done. And the Northeast Corridor can’t be shut down. New Jersey and New York need the connections under the Hudson River. And before we can do any major maintenance and repairs in those tunnels, we need new tunnels put in,” Wright said.

He spoke with WNYC’s Amy Eddings.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

America at 250: A View from Britain, with “The Rest Is History”

The historian-podcasters Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explain why losing the thirteen colonies “annoyed” the British, but “it could have been a lot worse.”
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

NYC Rent Guidelines Board approves 2-year rent freeze, fulfilling Mamdani campaign pledge

About 1 million rent-stabilized apartments will be shielded from rent increases for the next two years after the historic vote.
Gothamist |

Are Carriage Horses a Thing of the Past?

Liam Quigley talks about the latest efforts to ban carriage horses in Central Park.
The Brian Lehrer Show |

Feds indict former Mayor Adams adviser Frank Carone in migrant housing bribery scheme

One of former Mayor Eric Adams' oldest and closest allies was arrested Wednesday on federal corruption charges, joining a growing roster of Adams aides facing prosecution.
Gothamist |
YOU ARE ONLINE