Peter Rogoff, USDOT undersecretary tells the audience at a Trans Hudson transportation summit that the Obama administration wants to work out funding to build them.

((Larry Higgs |NJ Advance Media for NJ.com))

President Obama's transportation undersecretary said the administration wants to put a funding plan together to build a second Hudson River rail tunnel.

But the states have to come to the table, said Peter Rogoff, USDOT undersecretary for policy.

"We want to work with you to put that (funding) package together soon," Rohoff said at a Trans-Hudson transportation summit Thursday morning.

"In 20 months we'll be leaving and we won't leave without finding a way. (But) We need action by the governors, the legislators and by our own Congress," he said.

Obama has referred to Amtrak's Gateway tunnel project, which includes new tunnels, as the most important rail project in the nation, Rogoff said. "The Obama Administration is anxious to reach a funding agreement with this region to get the tunnels build."

Martin Robins, a former NJ Transit official said Rogoff's remarks were encouraging.

"We have a lot at stake," he said. "We have to get the federal government to help us in anyway we can."

Transportation Commisioner Jamie Fox praised the announcement.

“President Obama and (US Transportation) Secretary Foxx recognize that the Gateway Project is vitally important to the future of this region," Fox said. "We are prepared to work together with the federal government and our regional and private partners to move Gateway forward as expeditiously as possible."

State Senate President Steve Sweeney welcomed Rognoff's news about the importance of Gateway.

Today's announcement by federal officials that President Obama considers the Gateway rail tunnel to be the nation's top transportation priority underscores the need for us to quickly line up a commitment from the Port Authority to pledge the regional match needed to jump-start this vital project," Sweeney said.

But Jeff Tiitel, NJ Sierra Club director, questioned if New Jersey could fund its share of a new tunnel with the Transportation Trust Fund running out of cash to finance projects.

"It great that Federal Government wants to pull together a funding plan for the Gateway Tunnel.We have need this tunnel for a long time," he said. "Our biggest concern is NJ Transportation Trust Fund is broke and may stay underfunded for years to come .The failure of NJ to raise the gas tax or come up with other funding for transit needs hurts our economy and commuters."

Due to damage to the existing 105-year-old tunnels by salt from Hurricane Sandy, which could cause them to be closed for permanent repair, Rogoff said there is no time to waste.

"We have to take a hard look at what this means for the economy and to keep jobs and to recruit jobs for the region," he said. "There needs to be a wake-up call in state capitals and in congress."

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