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The Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel (also known as the Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel) is a proposed rail tunnel under New York Harbor for freight, between northeastern New Jersey and Long Island, including southern and eastern New York City beyond Manhattan. A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon New York Harbor, a geographic term refers collectively to the rivers bays and tidal estuaries near the mouth of the Hudson River in the vicinity of New York City Cargo (or freight) refers to goods or produce transported generally for Commercial gain by ship, aircraft, train, New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. Long Island is an island located in southeastern New York, USA, its western shores directly across from Manhattan, from which the island stretches The City of New York Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York

Contents

Background

Direct connections for railroad freight between Long Island and nearby areas of the United States have long been very limited. "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Long Island is an island located in southeastern New York, USA, its western shores directly across from Manhattan, from which the island stretches The United States of America —commonly referred to as the At present, freight trains between New York City, Long Island and southwest Connecticut must cross the Hudson 140 miles north of New York City at Selkirk, New York, making a detour known as the "Selkirk hurdle. The City of New York Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Selkirk is an unincorporated hamlet in the Town of Bethlehem located in Albany County New York. The Selkirk Hurdle is the term used by Urban planners, Railroad employees Politicians and others to describe the route that must be taken by Freight " As a result, less than 3% by weight of the area's freight is said to move by rail. The former Pennsylvania Railroad planned a freight railroad tunnel between Brooklyn and Staten Island in 1893, but the project was never carried out. The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Railroad, founded in 1846 Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Staten Island (ˌstætənˈaɪlənd is a borough of New York City situated primarily on the island of the same name Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Attempts by government planners to revive the project from the 1920s through the 1940s did not succeed. [1] The Pennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal Railroad tunnels through New York Penn Station, generally used only for passenger trains, were used for freight during World War I to relieve congestion at the barge transport docks. The New York Tunnel Extension (also New York Improvement and Tunnel Extension) owned by the Pennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal Railroad, was an important Pennsylvania Station (commonly known as “Penn Station”) is the major intercity rail station and a major Commuter rail hub in New York City A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a track ( Permanent way) to transport freight or passengers from one place to another World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All A railroad car float is an unpowered Barge with Rail tracks mounted on its deck [2]

Upper New York Harbor, showing the route of a proposed Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel.
Upper New York Harbor, showing the route of a proposed Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel.

In the early 1990s U. S. Rep Jerrold Nadler revived interest in direct connection of rail freight to Long Island, hoping to reduce truck traffic through Manhattan. Jerrold Lewis Nadler sometimes called Jerry Nadler (born June 13, 1947) is an American politician from New York City. [3] With support from the City government, the New York City Economic Development Corporation commissioned a study of rail freight traffic across New York Harbor. The government of New York City is organized under the City Charter and provides for a "strong" mayor-council system. New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC is a non-profit local development corporation that promotes economic growth across New York City 's five boroughs New York Harbor, a geographic term refers collectively to the rivers bays and tidal estuaries near the mouth of the Hudson River in the vicinity of New York City The Cross Harbor Freight Movement Major Investment Study received $4 million from the U. S. Department of Transportation and $1 million from the New York City Industrial Development Agency. The United States Department of Transportation ( DOT) is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with Transportation Edwards and Kelcey, a transportation engineering firm in Morristown, NJ, was hired to study the feasibility of alternative approaches to increased rail access for freight. This article is about the Town of Morristown in New Jersey Other places in New Jersey with similar names are Morris Township, Morris Plains, and Moorestown

The idea of a cross-harbor rail tunnel also received support from Connecticut transportation planners, who believed such a rail connection would reduce truck traffic on the heavily congested Connecticut Turnpike. Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The Connecticut Turnpike, formally known as the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike, is a Freeway in Connecticut that runs from Greenwich to [1]

Studies of feasibility and environmental issues

In its summer 2000 report Edwards and Kelcey evaluated proposals for rail tunnels between Brooklyn and Staten Island and between Brooklyn and Jersey City, plus increased barge transport of railcars across New York Harbor. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Staten Island (ˌstætənˈaɪlənd is a borough of New York City situated primarily on the island of the same name Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Jersey City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. A railroad car float is an unpowered Barge with Rail tracks mounted on its deck New York Harbor, a geographic term refers collectively to the rivers bays and tidal estuaries near the mouth of the Hudson River in the vicinity of New York City It estimated a pair of tunnels between Jersey City and Brooklyn to cost $2. Jersey City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. 15 billion, not including track connections or track improvements. Despite the length of the tunnels being considered, up to 17,000 ft (5200 m), the study found that providing enough ventilation to operate diesel locomotives would be practical. Ventilation is the intentional movement of Air from outside a building to the inside Diesel or Diesel fuel (ˈdiːzəl in general is any Fuel used in Diesel engines The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. [4]

Probably mindful of environmental issues that were key elements in the 1985 cancellation of the Westway project, the New York City Industrial Development Agency commissioned an environmental assessment. Environmental planning is a field of study that since the 1970s has been sconcerned with a given society's collective stewardship over its resources that ultimately includes those of the Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) For other uses of the term Westway see Westway Westway was the name of a proposed project to put New York City 's West Side Highway underground This assessment found that immersed tube construction would be environmentally more hazardous and more expensive than bored tunnel construction. An Immersed Tube is a kind of underwater Tunnel comprised of segments and/or elements constructed elsewhere and floated to the tunnel’s site to be sunken into place A tunnel boring machine ( TBM) is a machine used to excavate Tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. Ventilation was confirmed as practical and found unlikely to present greater hazards than fumes from trucks that would otherwise be used to transport freight. This article is about the semi-truck For the North American use of the word see Pickup truck. [1]

Following the feasibility and environmental studies, two organizations were formed to plan and promote a tunnel project and to seek government funding. Environmental planning is a field of study that since the 1970s has been sconcerned with a given society's collective stewardship over its resources that ultimately includes those of the In the United States Federal grants are economic Aid issued by the United States government out of the general federal revenue They are the Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project, hosted by STV Group, a construction firm in New York City and Douglassville, PA, and the Cross-Harbor Tunnel Coalition, also known as "MoveNYNJ" or "Move NY & NJ," headed by Marnie McGregor, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Pratt Institute, Center for Urban Development in Brooklyn. The City of New York This list of current cities towns unincorporated communities counties Pratt Institute is a specialized private college in New York City with campuses in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as in Utica New York Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. The Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project is supported by funds from the U. S. Federal Highway Administration, the U. The Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in Highway transportation S. Federal Railroad Administration and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, while the Cross-Harbor Tunnel Coalition is a voluntary organization of business, union and political leaders. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA is an administration in the United States Department of Transportation. New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC is a non-profit local development corporation that promotes economic growth across New York City 's five boroughs Political activity led to authorization of $100 million for a Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel as a federal transportation project in the U. Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions S. Transportation Equity Act of 2005. The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21 was enacted June 9, 1998, as Public Law 105-178 Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [5]

Rail tunnel facilities and characteristics

New York Harbor area, showing locations of facilities proposed for a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel. Railroad lines are red and orange, major highways are purple and black.
New York Harbor area, showing locations of facilities proposed for a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel. Railroad lines are red and orange, major highways are purple and black.

The proposed Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel tubes would be large enough to take double-stacked container cars. Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in a container or Vehicle, using multiple modes of Transportation ( In Railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of Rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials [6] As of 2004, according to the Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project, the alignment favored for a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel was between portals (access points) located in Conrail's Greenville Yard in Jersey City and along the Long Island Rail Road's Bay Ridge Branch at 65th St in Brooklyn, crossing the middle of the Upper Harbor, with a length of 5. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " In Geography, location is a position or point in Physical space that something occupies on Earths' surface Consolidated Rail Corporation, also known as Conrail, began operations on April 1, 1976 as a federally funded takeover of the major railroad Jersey City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. The Bay Ridge Branch is a Rail line owned by the Long Island Rail Road and operated by the New York and Atlantic Railway in the U Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. See also Geography and environment of New York City Upper New York Bay, sometimes called Upper New York Harbor or the Upper Bay, is 5 mi (8. 8 km).

During the environmental assessment, existing rail infrastructure was surveyed for compatibility with a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel. See also Nature The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is a terminology that is comprised of all living and Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids Parts of the existing trackage need repair. Some rights of way have been reduced to single-track width or were never wider. A right-of-way is a strip of land that is granted – through an Easement or other mechanism – for Transportation purposes such as for a Rail line or Some track segments lack enough clearance above the tracks for double-stacked container cars. Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in a container or Vehicle, using multiple modes of Transportation ( In Railroad terminology, a gondola is an open-top type of Rolling stock that is used for carrying loose bulk materials [7] [8] Such factors limit the effective capacity of a rail tunnel and will add substantial cost to overcome. Rail yards east of New York Harbor lack a trans-shipment terminal with enough capacity to transfer the freight coming through a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel to trucks. New York Harbor, a geographic term refers collectively to the rivers bays and tidal estuaries near the mouth of the Hudson River in the vicinity of New York City Transshipment or Transhipment is the Shipment of goods to an intermediate destination and then from there to yet another destination A proposal was generated to acquire 100 acres of land to build one in West Maspeth, Queens, though the original plans called for a terminal at the existing container terminal in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where the tunnel makes landfall, which is currently serviced only by truck and ship. Maspeth is a small community in the borough of Queens in New York City. Red Hook is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. [9] According to the Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project, project costs, including rail line connections and upgrades, will be substantially more than costs given in summer 2000 for just tunnels. They have been estimated at between $4. 8 and $7. 4 billion. [10]

Studies performed for the Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel say about 30,000 trucks per day cross the George Washington Bridge and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge going to or from parts of Long Island, including Queens and Brooklyn, or about 10 million trucks per year, and the capacity of the proposed rail tunnel to carry freight is equivalent to between 0. This article is about the semi-truck For the North American use of the word see Pickup truck. The George Washington Bridge (known informally as the GW Bridge, the GWB, the GW, or the George) is a Suspension bridge spanning The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked Suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New Long Island is an island located in southeastern New York, USA, its western shores directly across from Manhattan, from which the island stretches Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. 5 and 1. 0 million trucks per year. [11] If these estimates are accurate, then at full capacity the proposed rail tunnel could reduce truck traffic between 5 and 10%. This article is about the semi-truck For the North American use of the word see Pickup truck. Traffic on Roads may consist of Pedestrians ridden or herded Animals Vehicles Streetcars and other Conveyances either singly

Criticism of rail tunnel plans

Some critics object that improving rail transport with a tunnel would provide little traffic reduction relative to its high cost. "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Traffic on Roads may consist of Pedestrians ridden or herded Animals Vehicles Streetcars and other Conveyances either singly [12] The West Maspeth facility has been heavily criticized. Maspeth is a small community in the borough of Queens in New York City. It is proposed for an industrial site about four blocks south of the interchange between the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278), where Nichols Copper and later Phelps Dodge operated a copper refinery for decades. In the field of Road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically Interstate 495 (abbreviated I-495, better known as the Long Island Expressway or L The Brooklyn Queens Expressway ( BQE) is an Expressway which runs from southern Brooklyn, New York to the Grand Central Parkway Phelps Dodge Corporation is a former United States company founded in 1834 by Anson Greene Phelps and William E Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 The copper plant closed in 1983, and the site has been largely vacant since then, although a new food warehouse was completed at its eastern end in 2005. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) A warehouse is a commercial Building for Storage of Goods. Warehouses are used by Manufacturers Importers Exporters Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It abuts the heavily polluted Newtown Creek. Newtown Creek, is a Estuary that forms part of the border between the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, in New York City, [13] The Maspeth location is different from the original Cross-Harbor terminal site at the tunnel landing in Red Hook, with different local conditions.

Although the Cross-Harbor tunnel terminal site is close to two major highways and existing rail, many access routes pass through residential neighborhoods. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve Based on the estimates of the rail tunnel's capacity, traffic to and from the site could reach thousands of truck trips per day. Traffic on Roads may consist of Pedestrians ridden or herded Animals Vehicles Streetcars and other Conveyances either singly This article is about the semi-truck For the North American use of the word see Pickup truck. However, most of those trucks already travel through those highways to use the existing bridge connection.

Spokespersons for neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens strongly object to land being designated for a trans-shipment terminal or other railroad uses[14] and to the noise and vibration expected from passage of up to 1,600 rail cars per day. Brooklyn (named after the Dutch town Breukelen) is one of the five boroughs of New York City. Transshipment or Transhipment is the Shipment of goods to an intermediate destination and then from there to yet another destination [15] Reacting to these criticisms, in March 2005 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that he opposed the rail tunnel project. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City of New York Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) is an American businessman and the Mayor of New York City. [16] However, in early July, 2007, Mayor Bloomberg told Rep. Nadler, he would be willing to take another look at the plan. [17]

See also

External links

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b Gareth Mainwaring (2002). The development of the New York Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project. Hatch Mott Macdonald (Toronto, ON).
  2. ^ Christopher T. Baer, Ed. (Jun 2004). PRR Chronology. Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society.
  3. ^ Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) (1993). HR 2784, New York Harbor Tunnel Act of 1993. Library of Congress.
  4. ^ Michael G. Carey, President (2000). Cross Harbor Freight Movement Major Investment Study. New York City Economic Development Corporation.
  5. ^ Marnie McGregor (July 29, 2005). Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Cross Harbor Tunnel receives significant funding in federal transportation bill. Cross-Harbor Tunnel Coalition.
  6. ^ Steve Anderson (2006). Holland Tunnel historic overview. Eastern Roads. The diameter of a two-lane tube for the Holland Tunnel is slightly less than the diameter for a tube with one rail line in a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel, as shown in reference [1] (Mainwaring).
  7. ^ Jon Orcutt and Kate Slevin (May 17, 2004). Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Long-Awaited Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel Environmental Report Released. Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
  8. ^ Dredged Material Management Interagency Workgroup (February 5, 2003). Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Meeting Notes. NY/NJ Clean Ocean And Shore Trust.
  9. ^ Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project (2004). Brief History of Cross Harbor Rail. Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project.
  10. ^ Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project (2004). Frequently Asked Questions. Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project.
  11. ^ Marnie McGregor (February 2, 2006). Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel. Cross-Harbor Tunnel Coalition.
  12. ^ Peter Samuel (September 29, 2004). Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " New York harbor rail tunnel pushed with special truck toll tax. Toll Roads Newsletter.
  13. ^ Laura Stockstill (March 3, 2005). Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Planning Industrial Futures in West Maspeth. Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.
  14. ^ Rob McKay (September 30, 2004). Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Rally Rips Freight Tunnel Plan. Ridgewood Times Newsweekly (Queens, NY).
  15. ^ Leo King (December 6, 2004). Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Freight Lines: New Yorkers hear tunnel objections. National Corridors Initiative.
  16. ^ David Cargin (March 10, 2005). Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mayor Bloomberg Opposes Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel. Queens Chronicle, Mid-Queens Edition.
  17. ^ Lisa L. Colangelo (July 10, 2007). Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Dig it! Bloomy waffles on tunnel. Daily News, City Hall Bureau.
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