Report: Christie scrapping decades-in-the-making NJ-NY railroad tunnel, citing cost overruns

Report: NJ gov. scrapping long planned rail tunnel

TRENTON, N.J. — A newspaper is reporting that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will cancel a decades-in-the-making, $8.7 billion rail tunnel project because of escalating costs.

Christie has scheduled a 1:30 p.m. EDT press briefing. His staff would not say what the hastily called news conference is about. However, Christie said Wednesday that a decision on the tunnel project was imminent.

The Star-Ledger of Newark cites two senior officials who say the governor will discuss other transportation projects that will allow New Jersey to keep the $3 billion in federal funding earmarked for the tunnel project.

The commuter tunnel has been planned for 20 years.

Currently, NJ Transit and Amtrak share a two-track tunnel beneath the Hudson River. The project would add two more tracks.