Overview

• Amtrak plans to close one tube of the East River Tunnel starting Friday for a 13-month full renovation, sparking concerns about significant commuter impacts.
• The tunnel, built in 1910 and damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, requires extensive repairs to address corrosion and power issues.
• Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, and other leaders have formally requested that the U.S. Department of Transportation mandate a night-and-weekend repair schedule instead of full-day closures.
• Amtrak argues that its plan, which includes replacing concrete bench walls, is necessary for safety compliance, while independent experts counter that bench walls are expendable and an incremental approach is viable.
• The dispute reflects broader tensions between federal and local authorities over rail infrastructure governance and project execution in New York.