Discussed and debated for decades, the vision of a freight rail tunnel across New York City’s harbor recently took a small step forward: The Federal Highway Administration and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey now are able to conduct environmental reviews on two preferred alternatives—a rail tunnel and a floating railcar option. The moves follow a so-called Tier 1 record of decision, issued in December by the U.S. agency.
FHWA pared down 27 original alternatives to five waterborne options, five rail-tunnel alternatives and a no-build possibility, noted John Formosa, the agency’s major projects manager in New York City, in an update late last month to members of the Transportation Research Forum’s New York chapter.