The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in the US has granted an $1.35bn Early Systems Work Agreement (ESWA) to New Jersey (NJ) Transit to break ground on the $8.7bn Access to the Region's Core project.
The ESWA serves as a downpayment on a $3bb Full Funding Grant Agreement for the project by the FTA.
The agreement includes $650m in federal funds, allotted in equal portions through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and local funding.
The release of federal and local funds under ESWA for tunnelling and other construction-related work will help NJ Transit keep the project on schedule and within budget.
The nine-mile long Access to the Region's Core project includes construction of two new tunnels under the Hudson River, new tracks between Secaucus Junction and New York's Penn Station, and a new rail station beneath 34th Street in Manhattan.
The project will help NJ Transit to double rail service in Manhattan, free up capacity for Amtrak and reduce travel times and traffic at Penn Station.
