Report: Amtrak Gateway program to cost up to $23.9 billion

Amtrak's Gateway program could cost as much as $23.9 billion, including $7.7 billion to rebuild the Hudson River rail tunnels, the New York Times reported yesterday.

The plan calls for a series of projects to double rail capacity between Newark, N.J., and New York City; expand Acela high-speed rail service; and improve resiliency in severe weather.

In a presentation to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Amtrak officials provided preliminary estimates but noted that actual costs would be determined after conducting engineering work and an environmental plan, the newspaper reported.

Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Boardman were in attendance at the meeting, along with Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Feinberg.

In November 2015, Boardman spoke to Progressive Railroading about the urgent need to rebuild the Hudson River rail tunnels but did not comment on earlier cost estimates speculated in the media.