Amtrak blasts Hochul and MTA for spinning blame on tunnel closures that could lead to delays
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
Amtrak's top boss blasted Gov. Kathy Hochul for failing to shoulder her portion of the blame for tunnel closures that could lead to train delays starting next week.
In a sharply worded letter to Hochul, Amtrak president Roger Harris said Hochul's last-minute objections to Amtrak's tunnel shutdown plan were 'surprising' because MTA approved Amtrak's service plans for the $1.6 billion East River Tunnel rehabilitation months ago.
Harris also said MTA's mismanagement of another project delayed the 'critical' East River Tunnel repairs by six months — and he accused the state of pushing 'misinformation' that undermines public trust.
'This underscores the importance of aligned public messaging,' Harris wrote to the governor. 'The project's engineering, safety and operational requirements have been transparent from the start and fully vetted by your agencies, MTA and New York State Department of Transportation.'
Amtrak president Roger Harris said MTA has been a part of the controversial plan to close parts of the East River tunnels for repair work all along. REUTERS
Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote a letter Monday calling on Amtrak to change its repair plans — even though the NYDOT had worked closely on the project plans. Robert Miller
Harris warned that spinning the story could 'erode confidence' in all the agencies trying to fix the city's crumbling rails.
Starting May 9, Amtrak will close for repair one of the four East River tunnels that connect Penn Station to Queens — forcing the MTA, Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains to operate on fewer tracks while the aging infrastructure, which was battered by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, undergoes major repairs.
There will be only 10 round trips from Penn Station to Albany instead of the usual 12 because of the closure.
Workers will alternate which tunnel they work on during the three-year project.
Passengers were outraged after MTA heads warned the tunnel closures could cause delays for all trains running through the remaining three East River tunnels.
In response to Harris' letter, MTA issued a statement from Long Island Rail Road president Rob Free.
'If they proceed as intended, while finger-pointing about unrelated issues as a distraction, Long Islanders' reliance on record on-time and reliable trains will be jeopardized — which is unacceptable,' Free said.
Laura Mason, executive vice president at Amtrak, said Amtrak engineers worked with the MTA 'in a lot of detail' on the East River tunnel plans.
'This collaboration goes back years,' she told The Post Friday.
There will be only 10 round trips from Penn Station to Albany instead of the usual 12 during the three-year project. AP
The White House put Amtrak in charge of the Penn Station redo. Two weeks later, the MTA board passed a resolution condemning Amtrak's construction work on the East River tunnel project.
Mason said Amtrak was already working with MTA to mitigate delays by adding more standby crews to rescue trains if something goes wrong and by changing train schedules.
'I don't want to opine on their motives, but I do think the timing is questionable,' Mason said.
The engineer is working on the Penn Station revamp too — that project was recently yanked from the MTA and handed to Amtrak instead by the Trump administration.
'It is always challenging in an environment that has a lot of intense politics, as well as a high degree of ridership that people do get nervous ahead of these outages,' Mason said.
A spokesperson for Hochul said Amtrak has failed to deliver on promises to mitigate service disruptions and that's why the governor is concerned.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hispanic Heritage Council receives $7M for construction of cultural institute
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York will receive $7 million from New York State to complete the construction of its cultural institute on Buffalo's West Side, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday. The council's plans for the multi-use 37,000-square-foot facility on the corner of Niagara and Hudson Streets was first announced in 2019, but it has since faced delays due to COVID-19. Hochul described the investment as a 'gap-filling' initiative for phase two of the institute, which will serve as a hub for Hispanic history, arts and community. The $30 million facility broke ground in September 2023 at the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. The council plans for the institute to house a museum, 150-seat performing arts theater, event spaces, cafe, media center and learning labs. 'We are deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her unwavering support of the Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute. This historic investment is not just a milestone for the Buffalo Hispanic community — it's a gift to all of Western New York,' said Casimiro Rodriguez, the council's president and founder. 'As the first of its kind, this institute will serve as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, education, and heritage, drawing visitors from near and far, including our Canadian neighbors. It will enrich our region's cultural landscape and strengthen our identity as a welcoming and diverse community. The future is bright, and we are filled with hope and gratitude as we take this giant step forward together.' Hochul said the previous announcement in 2023 of a $5 million grant, along with additional funding, will continue to help with the completion of the project's second phase and grand opening. 'New Yorkers of Puerto Rican heritage have been an integral part of our state's cultural fabric for generations,' Hochul said. 'We are honored to make bold investments that will empower organizations to expand and thrive, ensuring that the vibrant presence of Puerto Rican culture in New York State remains a cherished aspect of our state's identity.' The council also received $1 million in federal funding in August 2023 for construction. Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua to discuss college athletics with President Trump
Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua to discuss college athletics with President Trump Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey are reportedly meeting with President Donald Trump Sunday to discuss the future of college athletics. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo! Sports, Bevacqua and Sankey are traveling to Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster to have a round with the 47th President, who is interested in discussing the college sports industry's future while on the course. This reported meeting comes at a time when the state of college athletics has never been more in flux. The House vs. NCAA settlement was finally finalized this past Friday evening, clearing a path for future revenue-sharing payments to be made directly to student-athletes for the very first time, further professionalizing college athletics. It allows for the establishment of an NIL Go Clearinghouse, which would have to approve NIL payments of more than $600 to student-athletes beginning this summer. Trump's interest in college athletics is nothing new. Previously he was working on a college sports commission that reportedly was going to be co-chaired by former Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Certainly there is never a dull day in the business of college athletics. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Dave on X: Miller_Dave
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Readers sound off on officials' cooperation, ICE agents and the Knicks' coach
Brooklyn: As a Democratic voter who has yet to feel a real spark of excitement about any mayoral candidate, I read with interest 'Mamdani: From 'Who?' to No. 2' (June 1). While I agree in principle with democratic-socialist ideas such as taxing the rich to provide services like free child care, I just don't see Albany getting behind them (and I don't know how any New Yorker can think that a NYC household earning $1 million a year qualifies as 'rich' given the cost of living!) At this time, when social services, environmental protections and immigrant rights are under attack by the federal government, we need a mayor who will band together with the governor to fight back as a united front. That said, this concern applies to frontrunner Andrew Cuomo even more than Zohran Mamdani (photo). Cuomo had a frosty relationship with Gov. Hochul when she was his lieutenant governor, and he clearly resents that he was forced to resign and she got his job. Given his reputation as an alpha-male bully, a Cuomo mayoralty could well be plagued by power struggles between NYC and Albany, distracting our state and city from the real issues we face on the President Trump front and elsewhere. Perhaps we should start taking a closer look at the mayoral candidates still stuck in low-polling 'who?' limbo, as they may have a better shot at cultivating a constructive relationship with Hochul. Katherine Raymond Staten Island: I find myself in agreement with most of the issues Whitney Tilson is raising in the Democratic mayoral primary. However, I have never seen one commercial or received any mailing advertisements about him. The only article I read was in your paper. I think that he needs to let more people know what he stands for. When I mentioned his name to others, they all responded the same way: 'Who is she'? Phyllis O'Callaghan Manhattan: No thanks to Voicer Gene O'Brien, who knocked the Democratic candidates for mayor without offering any solution about who deserves our vote. Your advice, sir, is about as worthless as giving medicine to the dead. Thanks for nothing. Richard Simon Jersey City: Father's Day is a day dedicated to acknowledging, appreciating and celebrating the multifaceted role of fathers in our lives and in society. It is a time to reflect on the impact fathers have made to their families. This might mean remembering his sagacious guidance, unwavering support or the sacrifices he made to provide for his family. Indeed, the word 'father' has real meaning. Unfortunately, there are far too many men who fail to comprehend the enormous responsibilities that come with fatherhood. To them, I strongly recommend they use a contraceptive. There are far too many neglected and unwanted children in the world, and we don't need these men who are not mature enough to accept the role of father adding to those numbers. Kamala Jasmine Patel Effort, Pa.: Every day, ICE is locking up undocumented people, even when they show up for court. When will we see the owners of the businesses that profit from hiring undocumented labor paraded through cities in handcuffs? Kathleen Slattery Staten Island: I pledge to interfere with ICE stormtroopers persecuting helpless people. I do not recognize their authority over me or over anyone. I know that I may get killed doing this, but I will be satisfied to be one of the first people killed in our second American Civil War to reestablish our free U.S.A. constitutional democratic republic, which has been attacked and occupied by MAGA maggot domestic enemies. Gary Perl Bayside: I wonder if ICE agents hide their faces behind masks because they are ashamed of what they do. Alex S. Avitabile White Plains, N.Y.: When the economy looks good, President Trump says it's his economy. When the economy takes a downturn, Trump says it's Joe Biden's economy. Now Trump claims it's Biden's fault that the Boulder, Colo., attacker was in the country and not deported. The fact is that he was in the country on a legal work permit that expired on March 28, under Trump's tenure. It is Trump's fault that he was still in the country after his permit expired and not deported by his stormtroopers, also known as ICE. Steve Howe Brooklyn: A few weeks ago, Trump called Elon Musk a 'great patriot.' Now he claims Musk is angry because Tesla and electric vehicles have taken a hit. Musk was never a great patriot. He was always in it for himself — for money, for power and for his brand. The guy voted for Barack Obama twice, and then he's Trump's right-hand man?! Zero integrity. Peter Magnotta Manhattan: If we put Sean 'Diddy' Combs, R. Kelly, Trump and Musk in a cage match, the pay-per-view proceeds would more than eliminate the U.S. national debt. Susan Kain Ashburn, Va.: Republicans are having second thoughts about their prospects in the 2026 midterm elections, and they're watching closely to see what happens this November in Virginia. Nov. 4 of this year will be the day millions of Virginians will decide who will be their next governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, as well as General Assembly delegates. Republicans are viewing the election as the proverbial canary in the coal mine, possibly presaging the results in the major congressional races in 2026 if enough red-state voters realize that Trump's policies are failing. Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw encouraged us to reevaluate our positions when necessary: 'Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.' Mike Barrett Forest Hills: A Voicer recently asked if Trump keeps dumping on Harvard University because they didn't accept him. No! It's because they didn't accept his son Barron. He's such a petty tyrant! Dori Strassman Raleigh, N.C.: If all Christians knew about what Jesus taught his followers, could they not condemn abortion or not be true Christians? Jews and Muslims believe that Jesus is a holy person but do not believe all that he taught, yet believe many of his teachings. The Catholic Church may have been the one group that turned the election because they became more vocal. Joseph J. Rothengast Bronx: After nearly two decades of misery and losses, the Knicks finally found the road to success under the stable and consistent guidance of Tom Thibodeau. To most Knick fans, it appeared that the team at last had found its own version of the Warriors' Steve Kerr or the Spurs' Greg Popovich. But no — as always, Knicks ownership found a way to mess things up! I guess winning 50 games or more for two seasons in a row, making the playoffs four out of the past five seasons and competing in the NBA Eastern Conference finals wasn't enough to satisfy team owner Jim Dolan. This guy is perhaps the worst team owner, not only in the NBA, but in all of professional sports. What this team needs is not a new coach, but a new owner. Carlos B. Martinez Bronx: I am a substitute teacher with the NYC Department of Education. I had the opportunity recently to spend time outside with the students. I told some of them that when I was a kid, we played neighborhood-wide tag on our bikes. One fourth-grader told me that that was good because we were helping the environment and getting exercise. I told him we were just playing and having fun. When did play become a lesson? Kathleen Hughes St. Albans: To Voicer Richard Warren: What is 'simply' forced sex? Please define 'run-of-the-mill rape.' Those terms diminish the severity of the assault, along with the physical and mental trauma suffered by the victim. I believe that a rapist can be reformed, however, the penalty should be determined by a judge and jury. Stephanie Revander
