Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cuomo Has 'Inconclusive' Hudson River Tunnel Meeting With Trump & Christie
By
Emma Whitford
Published Sep 8, 2017
Modified Sep 8, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Emma Whitford
Published Sep 8, 2017
Modified Sep 8, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Despite his campaign pledge to champion infrastructure, President Donald Trump has yet to fund half of the estimated $24 billion Gateway project, as promised last year. The funding question was central at a White House meeting Thursday with Governors Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie, as well as Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer.
The face-to-face was "inconclusive," according to Cuomo.
Gateway would fund a proposed Hudson River tunnel, deemed crucial by politicians and transit experts in New York and New Jersey, that would take pressure off of the two aging, Sandy-damaged tunnels used by New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains to access Penn Station. If emergency repair work shuts off one of the existing tunnels before Gateway's completion, rail capacity into Penn Station would be slashed by 75 percent.
The Gateway Development Corporation formed in 2015 with board members from New York, New Jersey, Amtrak and the DOT. This came years after a major setback in 2010, when Christie pulled out of a Hudson Tunnel plan, citing concerns about an increased gas tax.
"The leaders from New York and New Jersey reiterated that construction of new passenger rail tunnels under the Hudson is not only urgent, but critical for the entire northeast region and long overdue," Cuomo stated Thursday night.
"We confirmed our original agreement with the previous administration whereby the Port Authority would finance 50 percent with user fees and the federal government would contribute 50 percent," Cuomo added. "I also affirmed that it was imperative the project would have to be done using design build like the replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge, which the President agreed was a success."
"The meeting was positive. The president was receptive and wants to get back to us on Gateway," Schumer added.
The White House stated that the Trump administration is "committed to creating a robust infrastructure package that will modernize and transform our nation’s infrastructure" and that "the president appreciates having the opportunity to hear more details about the program from elected officials representing the region."
Trump's Transportation Department, which is staring down a 13 percent funding cut in the president's proposed budget, withdrew from the Gateway Program Development Corporation in July. To date, his promised one trillion dollar stimulus package for infrastructure is nowhere to be seen. "One trillion dollars. Where is it?" Governor Cuomo wondered at a July event. "What happened to it?"
Tagged
Christie
Cuomo
gateway
trump
Emma Whitford
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Jersey City mayor shakes up staff amid $255M budget gap
The city’s finance director, deputy mayor for housing, and several other senior officials resigned.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Oct 8, 2026 at 2:40 p.m. ET
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
High unemployment entitles borough residents to a waiver from the new requirement, officials said.
By
Caroline Lewis
News
Bronx residents will be exempt from new Medicaid work rule, state officials say
High unemployment entitles borough residents to a waiver from the new requirement, officials said.
By
Caroline Lewis
MTA chair accuses Andy Byford, who's leading Penn Station rebuild, of going 'full MAGA'
By
Stephen Nessen
and
Carol Chen
NYC parents want affordable childcare. But they don't all want the same thing.
By
Karen Yi
NY gov race pits old immigration playbook against new outrage over data centers
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .