Amtrak’s president, Roger Harris, has sharply criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for her reluctance to take on some responsibility for the impending tunnel closure, which could lead to train delays as early as next week.
In a pointed letter to Hochul, Harris expressed surprise at her final objections to the Amtrak tunnel closure plan, especially since the MTA had previously approved Amtrak’s service plan for the $1.6 billion East River Tunnel Rehabilitation a few months ago.
He also warned that mismanagement of another MTA project could further delay repairs to the “critical” East River Tunnel by six months. Harris condemned the situation for spreading “misinformation” that erodes public trust.
“This highlights the need for clear public messaging,” Harris wrote. “The engineering, safety, and operational details for the project have been thoroughly communicated from the beginning and vetted by the MTA and the New York Department of Transportation.”
Harris did express “confidence” in all agencies involved in repairing the city’s aging rail infrastructure, even as he shared his thoughts.
Starting May 9, Amtrak plans to close one of the four East River Tunnels that connect Penn Station to Queens. This is part of a larger effort to address damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
As a result of the closure, only 10 round trips from Penn Station to Albany will operate, down from the usual 12.
Workers will alternate tunnels throughout the three-year project.
Passengers are understandably upset, as the MTA head warned that this closure could lead to delays for all trains utilizing the remaining three East River Tunnels.
In response to Harris’s letter, MTA President Rob Free issued a statement, emphasizing that if the plan proceeds as intended, the reliance on Long Island commuters’ schedules could be jeopardized, labeling any unrelated issues as distractions, which he deemed unacceptable.
Laura Mason, Amtrak’s executive vice president, stated that their engineers have collaborated extensively with the MTA on the East River Tunnel plan.
“This collaboration spans many years,” she noted on Friday.
Mason added that Amtrak has already worked with the MTA to mitigate delays by adding a rescue train option and rescheduling services if issues arise.
“I don’t want to comment on their motivations, but I find the timing somewhat questionable,” Mason remarked.
Engineers are also making modifications to Penn Station—this project was recently taken from the MTA and handed over to Amtrak under the Trump administration.
“It’s always challenging in a highly politicized environment, especially when people are on tight schedules, and tensions can escalate before stops,” Mason observed.
The governor’s office echoed concerns, with a spokesman stating that Amtrak has not lived up to its promises to ease service disruptions.
