USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Project Name: Responsible Agency:
Federal Railroad Administration
Status:
Complete
POC Name:
Chris Hansen
POC Title:
Environmental Protection Specialist
Public Participation Website:
Action Outcome:
Issuance of multiple RODs and combined FEIS-ROD

Description:

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is the lead agency preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the Hudson Tunnel Project (the Project) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).  NJ TRANSIT and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) are joint lead agencies in the development of the EIS.  The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the U.S. Army Corps are Cooperating Agencies. FRA is coordinating compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106) with the NEPA process.

The Final EIS describes and presents analyses for the Preferred Alternative for the Hudson Tunnel Project, including information on how the Hudson Tunnel Project may progress towards construction following completion of the NEPA review process.  The USACE has a permitting action as part of Project implementation and is a cooperating agency.   FTA may have a role as a potential source of future funding for Project construction and is also a Cooperating Agency.  The project sponsor, which is the entity or entities that receive Federal financial assistance that will be responsible for advancing the Project through final design and construction and for meeting the commitments identified in the lead Federal agency’s ROD, is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will remain the Project Sponsor until such time as the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) assumes the role of Project Sponsor (the GDC is a bi-state entity which was created by New York and New Jersey to engage in activities to effectuate the Gateway Program; currently, the GDC does not have a formal role in the Project). The Port Authority and GDC anticipate that change will occur prior to the award of Federal financial assistance for the Project. Amtrak is the owner and operator of the NEC in the Project area, including the existing North River Tunnel and Penn Station New York (PSNY). Amtrak is responsible for developing the preliminary design of the Hudson Tunnel Project.

In addition, pertinent information about the project can be found at the project's FRA webpage: https://railroads.dot.gov/current-environmental-reviews/hudson-tunnel-project-new-jersey-and-new-york

 

Milestones:

Issuance of Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (Agency Action)
Completed Date:
Scoping (Agency Action)
Completed Date:
Official Notice of Availability of a Draft EIS published in the Federal Register (FR) beginning both the public comment period and concurrent CAA Section 309 Review (Agency Action)
Completed Date:
Official Notice of Availability of a Final EIS published in the FR beginning both the public review period and concurrent CAA Section 309 Review (Agency Action)
Completed Date:
Milestone Details

Under 23 U.S.C. 139(n)(2), FRA intends to issue a single document that consists of a final environmental impact statement and record of decision. Therefore, the review period does not apply. 

Issuance of Lead Agency Record of Decision (Agency Action)
  • Section 106 Review : Section 106 consultation concluded (Agency Action)
    - Completed Date: 05/10/2021
Completed Date:
Issuance of Additional Record of Decision (Agency Action)
    Lead Signatory for Additional Record of Decision:
  • Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration
Completed Date:
Milestone Details

FTA Point of Contact: 

POC Name: Donald Burns

POC Title: Supervisory Transportation Program Specialist

POC Email: Donald.Burns@dot.gov