The Gateway Program, a long-term effort to upgrade rail infrastructure between Newark and New York City, aims to modernize critical transit assets and expand capacity along the Northeast Corridor. According to a new analysis by the Regional Plan Association, the full redevelopment is projected to deliver over $445 billion in economic benefits by 2060 and will support an average of 46,100 jobs each year. These improvements are expected to enhance reliability for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters while boosting regional and national economies.
Most of the economic impact will occur between 2045 and 2060, with RPA estimating that Gateway, which runs from Newark, New Jersey, to New York Penn Station, will contribute $230 billion to the Tri-state area and another $170 billion across the nation.
According to Kate Slevin, executive vice president of RPA, the current infrastructure on the Northeast Corridor hasn't been replaced in nearly 100 years. Gateway aims to save time and costs during travel while boosting business productivity.
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“The projects outlined in the Gateway Program are vital upgrades that advance our infrastructure and environmental agendas, while also providing transit riders with the smooth and reliable commute they deserve," Slevin said.
"An investment in the Gateway Program is an investment in improving the lives of those who rely on passenger rail service every day."
The Gateway Program includes 11 projects, from the Portal North and South Bridges over the Hackensack River in New Jersey to the Penn Station Expansion in Manhattan.
According to RPA, 450 trains run daily along the Northeast Corridor, transporting more than 200,000 passengers. The Gateway Program was first approved by the Federal government in 2021, but construction did not start until 2023.
The redevelopment of the Tri-state region's infrastructure comes amid a battle between the federal government and NYC to continue the city's congestion pricing initiative, which aims to cut down on traffic jams in Manhattan below 60th Street by charging higher tolls during peak hours. While the Trump administration has made efforts to end the program, it remains in effect, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which provides local buses, subway, and railroad services in the area, has filed a lawsuit to keep the congestion pricing in place. As of now, it's unclear what the future holds for the program in the city.
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