Moving Midtown West - Four Rail Iinvestments Vital to New York City's Future

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CONCLUSION
LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILD THE TRANSIT NETWORK THAT WILL SERVENEW YORK CITY IN THE NEXT CENTURY

New York has always found a way to build great projects that stimulate economic growth for the region and the nation. This report has laid out what the Building Congress believes are the next critical rail transportation infrastructure projects that will encourage further growth and the key steps it will take to complete them.

In addition to the significant logistical challenges of moving these projects forward, their combined cost is large. Funding will have to come from local, state, federal, and possibly private sources. Government leaders must be resourceful and committed to obtaining and allocating the necessary funds. The recent Building Congress report, How to Save New York City's Infrastructure: Dedicate Revenues, proposes new, protected revenue sources, some of which could be assigned to help partially fund these vital projects.

Together, these projects will alleviate the stress of an overtaxed rail system, the overcrowding and confusion of Penn Station, and the weaknesses of the 100-year-old cross-Hudson tunnels, while creating a grand entryway for Amtrak and a new landmark for the City. These public works will provide a return on investment measured in millions of hours in reduced commuting times, billions of dollars of new economic activity, the creation of thousands of new jobs, and substantial reductions in car traffic.

However, government officials will need to bring a sense of urgency, responsibility, and commitment to these projects, and a willingness to cooperate. The decisions our leaders make in the near term will affect New York City and the Northeast for generations to come. We cannot wait. The future of the region is at stake.