Governor Kathy Hochul announced an agreement with Amtrak to ease the impact of upcoming East River Tunnel repairs, starting Friday (May 23). The repairs aim to address damage from Superstorm Sandy, with two of the four tunnel lanes closing for reconstruction.

According to Amtrak, the $1.6 billion project will renew the century-old tunnels' power, signal, track, and structural systems. Despite structural soundness, the tunnels have suffered system failures, necessitating full reconstruction to ensure long-term reliability.

Governor Hochul stated that Amtrak will add shift crews to meet capacity needs and has agreed to suspend dynamic pricing on affected train trips during the expected one-year shutdown. The agreement is intended to make the tunnel closures more manageable for commuters.

In a letter to Governor Hochul, Amtrak President Roger Harris emphasized the importance of a united front to minimize passenger impact and reaffirm the commitment to infrastructure rehabilitation.

However, the project has faced criticism. The New York Daily News reported concerns from officials, including Governor Hochul, about the necessity of full closures. Critics argue that repairs could be done during nights and weekends, similar to the L train repairs in 2019. They suggest using cable racks to avoid full shutdowns, a method Amtrak plans to use for everything except power cables.

Despite these criticisms, the project is set to proceed, with the first tube closure beginning on Friday (May 23).

Jeff Stevens