Christie, Foxx 'committed' to working together on new Hudson River rail tunnels

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie yesterday met with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to discuss plans to build new rail tunnels under the Hudson River.

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) also were in attendance at the meeting, which the four men described as "substantive and productive."

In a joint statement, the group said it is "committed to working together on this critical project" and obtaining "substantial federal grant contribution toward the Hudson River tunnels."

"The state of New Jersey supports the Gateway project and is committed to developing a framework with the Federal government to begin it," they said. "We all recognize that the only way forward is equitable distribution of funding responsibility and the active participation of all parties."

The four officials also said they would work on other funding and financing options for the tunnels.

Building the new tunnels would double current train capacity and allow crews to repair the existing 105-year-old structures, Foxx said last month.

Their meeting follows several days of delays along New Jersey Transit's routes under the Hudson River. After the service disruptions, Foxx called for meetings with both Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo declined to join the meeting, and earlier stated that a federal loan to fund the tunnels would not be sufficient.