NY, NJ, PA Residents Overwhelmingly Support Gateway Program: Poll

NEW YORK, NY — A new poll shows that a large majority of residents in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are supportive of the ambitious Gateway Program infrastructure project despite criticism from the federal government in recent years.

The Gateway Program Development Corporation randomly surveyed 400 people from the three states and found that more than 85 percent think that it's either very or somewhat important that the federal government partner with New York and New Jersey on the project — which will construct a second rail tunnel under the Hudson River and modernize the oft-troubled Portal Bridge.

Other highlights from the poll include:

• Nearly 90 percent of people surveyed believe it's somewhat or very important to construct a second tunnel underneath the Hudson River;
• Nearly 90 percent of people surveyed believe a second rail tunnel will help New York and New Jersey commuters;
• About 72 percent of people surveyed believe the federal government should provide funding for the Gateway Project;
• More than 60 percent of people surveyed believe transit delays have gotten worse in the past 5 years;
• More than 60 percent of people surveyed are worried about a breakdown of the current rail tunnel.

"It is encouraging to see continued strong support for the Hudson Tunnel and Portal North Bridge
Projects," Gateway Development Corporation Chairman Steven M. Cohen said in a statement. “[Two-hundred-thousand] daily passengers are relying on us to deliver a more reliable, resilient and safer experience. We have not a minute to lose."

The poll showed widespread support for the project, but also a lack of faith that commuters will enjoy the benefits of the Gateway Program any time soon. Only 31 percent of people surveyed believe the new Hudson River tunnel will be built in the next 10 years, compared to 33 percent who doubted it and 35 percent of people who were unsure.

And people should have good reason to feel down on the project's prospects. President Donald Trump's administration has seemingly pulled out all the stops to tank the Gateway Program. In late 2017 federal transportation officials sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie saying that a 2015 deal to split funding 50/50 between federal and state governments was off the table.

In March, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao revealed that Trump is actively trying to block federal funding for the project.

The existing rail connection between New Jersey and Penn Station consists of a pair of century-old tunnels just south of the Lincoln Tunnel. These rail tunnels, which serve both Amtrak and NJ Transit trains, were already in need of repair when they were badly damaged in 2012 by millions of gallons of seawater from Superstorm Sandy.

The Gateway Development Corporation partnered with SurveyMonkey to poll 403 residents of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania between Sept. 27 and Oct. 1. The people surveyed were chosen at random and represent a "balance of gender, age, education and income levels," according to a press release.

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