Overview

• Amtrak has delayed the planned closure of the East River Tunnel’s first tube by two weeks, now scheduled to begin on May 23, citing the MTA’s delayed East-Bound Reroute project as a factor.
• The rehabilitation project aims to repair damage from 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, with Amtrak planning full daytime closures of two tunnel tubes, each lasting approximately 13 months.
• New York officials, including Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, have called for night-and-weekend repairs instead, citing concerns over commuter disruptions and operational risks.
• Independent experts and a 2020 London Bridge Associates report suggest that incremental repairs, leaving the tunnel’s bench walls intact, could meet safety standards without full closures.
• Amtrak has stated that full closures are necessary for safety and efficiency, but the delay provides time to explore mitigation strategies and adjust service plans with stakeholders.