A project to build new Hudson River rail tunnels will get a $70 million boost from Amtrak and the Port Authority for preliminary work, while federal officials agreed to fast track an environmental review to buy time and save money.

Federal officials, including U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ, the Port Authority and New York and New Jersey officials, made the announcement Wednesday, which marks the first major progress on the tunnel project since Govs. Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo announced a funding agreement between the states and federal government.



Transportation agencies are in a race against time to start the $20 billion Gateway Project before one of two 106-year-old tunnels has to be taken out of service to repair flood damage, which would severely disrupt commuter rail service.



"This is huge. It is a significant step," Booker said. "We're farther down the field than I thought we'd be last summer."

The Gateway Project would build two new tunnels under the Hudson River to augment the existing two 106-year-old Amtrak tunnels, which NJ Transit uses for all trains going into New York. The project would include constructing two new tracks between Newark and New York for a total of four tracks and building a Penn Station annex.

Amtrak estimates the earliest the new tunnels could be in service would be 2030.



Of the $70 million in funding for critical preliminary engineering work, $35 million in federal funding will come from Amtrak and $35 million is scheduled to be allocated by the Port Authority, which could approve it at Thursday's board of commissioners meeting.



"We are excited that, with the help and leadership of Secretary Foxx, Governors Christie and Cuomo, and Senators Schumer, Booker and Menendez, the Program is moving forward," said Tony Coscia, Amtrak Board of Directors Chairman. "The Gateway Program is fundamental to preserving and expanding mobility within the region and (to) strengthen our country's economy and global competitiveness. It's time to build."



Amtrak's $35 million will come from added funding to its budget from Northeast Corridor profits.



"Today's announcement is encouraging and moves us one step closer to building new Hudson River tunnels, replacing the Portal Bridge, and securing the economic future of our state and the entire region," said U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, D-NJ, who worked on the infrastructure and funding bills. "Not only is completing the Gateway Project my number one transportation priority, but it is a national imperative that cannot afford further delay."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that his department will accelerate the federal environmental reviews and permits for the tunnel project. Experts said that is a key factor to reducing the time and cost.

"When I sounded the alarm last summer, I said the only way a project of this size gets done is with the full participation of regional partners. Today's action demonstrates a regional commitment," Foxx said. "We encourage the project sponsors to move swiftly apply for additional Federal grants and loans."

NJ Transit is the agency leading the environmental review.

"What people should see is that Foxx is a hero player in the sense that he under stands the urgency," Booker said. "The Obama administration has 10 months left, it's time to play hurry up offense and do everything we can to get as far down the field as possible for the next administration."

Fox said Gateway will be included on the President's Federal Infrastructure Projects Dashboard, which means a swift environmental review.

Also announced was an agreement between local and federal agencies, to begin applying for various federal grants and loans to fund the new tunnels, a new Portal bridge and to complete the Hudson Yards tunnel box, which preserved the tunnel route while a massive office and development complex was built over it.



"These are things that will bring relief to the suffering and end the frustration of NJ Transit riders," Booker said. "It's not just the tunnel, but doing things like Portal Bridge."



Last November, federal officials committed to funding half of the Gateway Project with New Jersey and New York agreeing funding the rest.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.