New Jersey contractors have been hard at work on the largest public-transit project in the nation, a commuter train tunnel under the Hudson River connecting New Jersey to Manhattan — until today, when New Jersey governor Chris Christie found out the tunnel would cost $5 billion more than he’d expected, and decided splurging on this thing was actually “completely unthinkable,” as he does not want to put Jersey taxpayers “on what would be a never-ending hook.” So, change of plans! Pack up and go home now, guys. Except, “Mr. Christie’s decision stunned other government officials and advocates of public transportation because work on the tunnel was under way and $3 billion of federal financing had already been arranged — more money than had been committed to any other transit project in America.” Oops.
N.J. governor kills Hudson River tunnel project [CNN]
Governor of New Jersey Halts Train Tunnel [NYT]
