FRA opens environmental hearings for Hudson River rail tunnels

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today will begin holding hearings to solicit public input the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the Hudson River rail tunnel project.

The FRA will hold two sessions today. Hearings also are scheduled for Thursday and 10. Each meeting will include afternoon and evening sessions.

Unveiled in early July, the DEIR determined that building a new Hudson River rail tunnel between New York City and New Jersey could cost nearly $13 billion.

The preferred alternative calls for building two new rail tubes in a single tunnel beneath the Hudson River, along with refurbishing existing tunnels.

The new tubes will be designed to maintain the current level of train service while the North River tunnel tubes are taken out of service one at a time for rehabilitation.

The FRA expects to issue a final environmental impact report in March 2018.