Govs. Cuomo, Murphy appoint six to Gateway commission

Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Phil Murphy of New Jersey yesterday announced appointments to represent their states on the Gateway Development Commission, which will oversee construction of the Hudson River Tunnel project.

Representing New York will be New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, Thruway Authority Project Director Jamey Barbas and former Secretary to the Governor Steven Cohen.

Murphy will nominate Janine Bauer and Balpreet Grewal Virk, who upon confirmation from the New Jersey Senate will collectively serve as New Jersey's representatives, along with Jerry Zaro, the current chairman of the Gateway Program Development Corp.

"Gateway is the single most important infrastructure project not only for this region but for the entire nation, and it will require the input of seasoned professionals who know what it takes to deliver major multifaceted projects," said Cuomo in a press release.

Added Murphy: "By signing legislation creating the Gateway Development Commission and nominating commissioners from both New Jersey and New York, Gov. Cuomo and I are renewing our commitment to moving the Hudson Tunnel Project forward."

The commission consists of seven members in total: three to represent New York, three for New Jersey, and one for Amtrak. The members from each state will report to Cuomo and Murphy on the Gateway program's progress.

Currently undergoing environmental review, the Hudson River Tunnel project calls for the design and construction of a new rail tunnel that will travel under the Hudson River to serve New York Penn Station. The project also calls for modernizing the existing North River Tunnel, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

The Hudson Tunnel Project is one of several in Amtrak's Gateway program, which calls for billions of dollars-worth of infrastructure improvement projects along the Northeast Corridor.