Christie to cancel Trans-Hudson tunnel--again

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will cancel the Trans-Hudson transit tunnel project for good today, the Newark Star-Ledger reported. Christie canceled the multi-billion-dollar tunnel-boring project on Oct. 7, but was convinced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to give the decision another two weeks to try to find a way to pay for likely cost overruns on the project.

Christie will call a final halt to the process today, according to four officials close to the project, the Star-Ledger reported.

Christie has all along refused to stick the New Jersey taxpayers with cost overruns on the project, which could reach $1.1 billion to $5.3 billion, depending on the estimate, beyond the state’s $2.7 billion share of the project. New Jersey would be responsible for any cost overruns on the project.

The U.S. DOT and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey both pledged $3 billion for the 9-mile bored-tunnel project to connect a new station in Manhattan and Secaucus, N.J. The transit line would double rail capacity between Manhattan and New Jersey.

The federal government has offered nothing that would change Christie’s mind, according to the four sources.