(Kate Hinds, Transportation Nation) Governor Christie has formally put the nail in the coffin on the ARC tunnel. He issued a press release today that said:
"The ARC project costs far more than New Jersey taxpayers can afford and the only prudent move is to end this project."
He continues: “There is no doubt that transportation projects are critical to creating jobs and growing our economy. I have asked Commissioner Simpson and (NJ Transit) Executive Director Weinstein to work with all interested parties - Amtrak, the Federal Transit Administration, the Port Authority, the State and City of New York and our Congressional delegation - to explore approaches to modernize and expand capacity for the Northeast Corridor. However, any future project must recognize the regional and national scale of such an effort and work within the scope of the State’s current fiscal and economic realities."
He adds: "The ARC project will be terminated and staff will immediately begin an expeditious and orderly shutdown of the project."
This decision comes after the governor halted work on the tunnel last month to assess its cost.
More as we learn it.
Below is the memo from the ARC Project Executive Committee to Governor Christie recommending the project's termination.