Passenger Trains > NJ authorizes 600M for Portal bridge replacement

http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2018/06/nj_puts_up_cash_to_replace_the_rail_bridge_that_ru.html

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$1.7 billion cost now, predicting $2+ billion before its all over.

Lot of money to spend to clear a couple of barge tows of sludge.

I'm still very confused about why New Jersey or anyone else is ponying up $600 million for Portal or several billion for Gateway when this is Amtrak property. This part of the NEC was bought by the Federal government and handed to Amtrak in 1976 to operate and maintain. The commuter agencies pay Amtrak for usage fees. When New Jersey pays all of this money for Portal and the new Gateway tunnels, Amtrak'll still own it, operate and maintain it, at least theoretically, although the last couple of years at Penn Station shows they haven't been doing that until 5 or 6 trains derail. What does New Jersey get out of this? Why is Amtrak still owning and maintaining this section of the NEC? Why isn't the entire New York region of the NEC a terminal company, where Amtrak, NJT and the LIRR would share ownership and responsibilities?

NJ Transit should be a Co-dispatcher at NYP, like LIRR. Instead of getting screwed over by Amtrak.

Amtrak is the first to complain when CSX UP etc put something in the way. But as a former commuter on NJT 3720 and 3722, I've spent months waiting for late Amtrak 2154 to clear...

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