More than 85% of respondents think it's "very or somewhat" important to add a second rail tunnel under the Hudson, while 72% think the federal government should help pay for a new rail tunnel.
In a separate question 41.44% answered the federal government, New York, New Jersey, Amtrak and the private sector should all “pay to replace the current one-track-in, one-track-out bridge and tunnel that carries 200,000 NJ Transit and Amtrak passengers in to and out of New York and is a link to the national economy”.
The survey was conducted September 27-October 1 by SurveyMonkey of a representative sample of 403 adults living in New York, New Jersey and north-eastern Pennsylvania.
“It is encouraging to see continued strong support for the Hudson Tunnel and Portal North Bridge Projects,” said GDC Chairman Steven M. Cohen. “We have not a minute to lose” he added.
Following last week’s elections, Roderick Devlin, partner at Nixon Peabody, highlighted to P3 Bulletin that “any House infrastructure bill is likely to include funding for the NY/NJ Gateway Project”.
Meanwhile, following re-election Governor Andrew Cuomo’s has announced a comprehensive solicitation for New York State's first large-scale offshore wind development contracts.
Under the solicitation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has the ability to award 25-year long-term contracts for projects ranging from approximately 200MW to approximately 800MW, with an ability to award larger quantities if sufficiently attractive proposals are received. Each proposer is also required to submit at least one proposal of approximately 400MW.
Bids are due in February 2019 and awards are expected in spring 2019, with contracts due to be executed thereafter to take advantage of expiring federal tax credits.