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Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday testified at a field roundtable of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the United States House of Representatives on the importance of federal support for the Gateway Program.

It has been well reported that this program of projects, which includes replacing the century-old Portal Bridge, and the construction of a new tunnel under the Hudson River, is the most urgently needed infrastructure project in the nation, with wide-ranging economic impacts.

Gateway is the replacement for the ARC Tunnel Project, which was canceled in 2010 by Governor Christie. Had that project moved forward, a new cross-Hudson tunnel would have been operational today.

“My administration is unwaveringly committed to ensuring the safe passage of the thousands of commuters crossing the Hudson daily, and any failure to complete the Gateway Program critically undermines this responsibility,” said Governor Murphy.

In testifying to Chairman DeFazio, and the members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Murphy wanted to be perfectly clear that “this is not a matter of red and blue, it’s not a New York thing or a New Jersey thing. It is a matter of national security and economic stability.”

The governor continued saying, for those who shortsightedly see Gateway as just a tunnel for commuters from New Jersey to get into New York, or for Jets and Giants fans to get to New Jersey, allow me to dispel the fallacy in such thinking. Twenty percent of our nation’s GDP – I repeat, 20 percent – depends on these tunnels. And, allow me to be perfectly clear on another thing – Gateway is going to be built, one way or another.”

“Either the federal government is going to finally come to the table with New Jersey and our partners in New York, and at Amtrak and the Port Authority, to get this done proactively, or there is going to be a catastrophic failure in one of these tunnels that is going to force us to build,” Murphy stated.

“New Jersey has, and will continue to be, invested as a full partner to build Gateway, and I continue to call on the Trump Administration to join with us in this project of regional and national significance. I thank the members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their support, and for visiting our region to help move this program forward.”

The Portal North Bridge and Hudson River Tunnel Projects are imperative to the functioning of the Northeast Corridor, one of the busiest transit corridors in the nation. These two projects are single points of failure on the NEC, and a failure at either would have catastrophic consequences to the region and the country. The Murphy Administration has pledged $600 million to support the Portal North Bridge project.

The program, which has bipartisan support in Congress and from the New Jersey delegation along with other State leaders, has been delayed in the financial and environmental review process with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.

“New Jersey has demonstrated steadfast commitment to the Gateway Project, and we simply can’t afford to wait any longer to move this project forward,” U.S. Senator Cory Booker said. “If the Northeast Corridor were to be shut down for just one day, the economy would lose $100 million in economic productivity – this fact alone demonstrates how urgent and important this project is to the economic vitality of our nation. It’s time for the Administration to step up to protect commuters and modernize our infrastructure. I’m grateful to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for visiting the region to see first-hand the urgent need to advance this critical project.”

“It’s estimated that if the Northeast Corridor had to shut down for just one day, it would cost $100 million. Now, imagine the devastation if the corridor shut down for months or years – and that could happen if Gateway doesn’t happen,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “This transportation artery is the lifeblood of the Northeast – particularly in New Jersey – and it seriously impacts our regional and national economy. We need to do everything we can to swiftly move the project forward.”