Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Feb 9: The administration of US President Donald Trump on Sunday filed an appeal against a court order directing the Transportation Department to unfreeze federal funding for the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project linking New York and New Jersey, according to court records.

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas on Friday issued a preliminary injunction requiring the federal government to release funds for the project, which is aimed at overhauling critical rail infrastructure in the region. The Trump administration moved to challenge the ruling by filing a notice of appeal on Sunday.

The Transportation Department had said in September that it froze the funding pending a review of the project’s compliance with new federal restrictions on race- and sex-based considerations in contracting decisions.

Last month, Trump reportedly offered to unfreeze the funds in exchange for Democratic support to rename Washington Dulles Airport and New York’s Penn Station after him, an offer that drew strong criticism from Democrats.

The Gateway Project seeks to construct a new commuter rail tunnel between Manhattan and New Jersey and repair the existing century-old Hudson Tunnel, which carries more than 200,000 passengers and 425 trains daily. Judge Vargas issued her ruling just hours after New York and New Jersey warned that construction would be halted due to lack of funds.

The existing tunnel sustained heavy damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and requires frequent emergency repairs, causing repeated disruptions on the country’s busiest passenger rail corridor.

Welcoming the ruling, the Gateway Development Commission said it would move swiftly to restart work once funds are released. The project had been allocated nearly $15 billion in federal support under former President Joe Biden, of which close to $2 billion has already been spent.