Amtrak is set to proceed with the city’s tunnel closure this Friday, despite Governor Eric Adams’ concerns that this three-year project could lead to significant transit disruptions.
Amtrak officials had a “productive” discussion with Governor Hochul and the Metropolitan Transit Agency on Thursday. However, they confirmed that one of the two westbound train tracks in the East River Tunnel will be closed, according to spokesperson Jason Abrams.
“We’ve assured the governor and the MTA that we will do our best to minimize disruptions for passengers during this project,” Abrams noted.
The East River Tunnel, which opened in 1910, spans 2.5 miles beneath the East River and connects Queens to Penn Station.
As part of the maintenance efforts, Amtrak plans to upgrade the tunnel to prevent water accumulation and address issues with deteriorating concrete to stop leaks.
This closure plan, however, has drawn criticism from Long Islanders and several city and state officials. Some argue that unforeseen construction problems might necessitate a total shutdown of the tunnel, leading to large-scale disruptions in train service.
In response, Amtrak committed to having 24-hour engineering support available during the closure and announced they would conduct more frequent inspections of the remaining westbound tracks to mitigate delays.
Governor Hochul mentioned that Amtrak would evaluate whether the tunnel might need to be completely shut down when construction starts in the fall of 2026, anticipated to last around 13 months. Amtrak engineers confirmed that the first phase of tunnel work would be around 13 months from the closure date.
Hochul also requested that Amtrak halt dynamic pricing for affected train trips, and Abrams indicated that they are currently looking into the feasibility of this request with the New York Department of Transportation.
In the midst of this situation, Mayor Eric Adams has actively opposed the plans, even sending a strongly-worded letter to Transport Secretary Sean Duffy.
City Hall sources revealed that Adams was frequently communicating with the White House regarding the closure, with Vice Mayor Randy Maestro echoing the mayor’s concerns. Ultimately, it appears Hochul is taking the lead in this discussion.
Meanwhile, the MTA’s Long Island Railroad relies heavily on the East River Tunnel, running hundreds of trains daily. LIRR President Rob Free has also been advocating against the planned closure, which he referred to as an “Amtrak operation” last week.
Amtrak has argued that a complete shutdown of the tunnel might be necessary due to substantial damage incurred during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“Our commitment is to provide reliable service for today’s passengers while making necessary long-term investments to sustain our services for future generations,” Abrams concluded.
