NJ Transit, Amtrak and politicans work toward solving delay issues

The blame game continues over NJ Transit delays on the Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor as delays develop again.

Tracks on the Northeast Corridor (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

20 minute delays in-and-out of New York's Penn Station developed late in the morning commute on Tuesday because of ongoing overhead wire work. Later in the morning, a 30-minute delay developed because of a disabled train resulting in single-tracking.

Cross honoring of tickets was in effect on buses, PATH trains and New York Waterway.

Service was back to normal by early Wednesday afternoon.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Andrew Foxx has invited Gov. Chris Christie (R) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to meet sometime in the next two weeks to talk about building a new Hudson River rail tunnel according to the New York Times. Foxx is also offering federal financial help to construct the tunnel, which Amtrak says is necessary to take the burden off the 100-year-old existing tunnels.

“Neither Amtrak nor your individual states, acting alone, can replace these tunnels,” Foxx wrote in a letter to the governors. “It will take all of us working together.”

The invitation comes a week after NJ Transit experienced delays during four of five days last week due to overhead wire work by Amtrak. Christie spokesman Brian Murray told the New York Times the governor is willing to discuss a new tunnel "so long as it is equitably funded by everyone who benefits regionally and not disproportionately on New Jersey taxpayers as the ARC project was."

Campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday, Christie confirmed he will meet with Foxx and Cuomo.

Christie vetoed the ARC proposal in 2012 over concerns that New Jersey would be responsible for cost overruns.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D) told CBS New York that “while there’s going to be a constant patch to these efforts, we’re not going to see real relief for commuters until we get new infrastructure." Sen. Cory Booker (D) is joining Menendez in supporting a six-year transportation funding plan.

Senior management from NJ Transit and Amtrak met on Monday, according to NJ.com, to discuss short-and-long term solutions and to discuss Amtrak's maintenance procedures. Amtrak crews are continuing their work on two damaged high-voltage cables at Penn Station, according to Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz, and will keep NJ Transit informed of any issues that could lead to delays.