Cuomo: Hudson tunnel needed, feds must pay ‘lion’s share’

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that while there's consensus on the need to build a new Hudson River rail tunnel, the federal government needs to agree to pay "the lion's share" of the estimated $14 billion price tag.

Speaking on NY1, the Democratic governor said he is trying to "provoke" a conversation at the federal level about the need to pay for the tunnel. Recent delays on the existing century-old rail lines under the Hudson have highlighted the need for a new tunnel.

Cuomo did not attend a meeting about the tunnel Tuesday between New Jersey leaders and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. He said Wednesday that New York will pay its fair share, but only after Washington commits to paying most of the cost.

Foxx's spokesman, Jon Romano, noted that the office has made it clear it would do "everything we could" to move the project forward. But he added that the only way to do that is through "the equitable distribution" of funding responsibility.

Romano added that Cuomo has "made it clear" he has no interest in meeting with the agency,

"As the governor knows, the federal government doesn't just issue grants without a fully defined scope, project and applicant and at the present time, there isn't a fully defined project or applicant we can event grant the money to," Jon Romano told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

"As commuters continue to endure serious daily challenges in this region, it's disappointing that this meeting hasn't happened yet," Romano said. "However, Secretary Foxx remains committed to meeting with Governor Cuomo if and when he's ready."

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)