Gateway Project Still in Design Phase

A planned project to increase the number of trains and tracks going to and from New York City is still in the design phase.

Amtrak chairman Anthony Coscia on Monday said the Gateway Project includes building additional tunnel capacity under the Hudson River, which could result in more than 20 new Amtrak and NJ Transit trains during peak hours.

"Our current plan allows us to connect to 18 of the 21 tracks that are in Penn Station," Coscia said.

The Gateway Project was announced in February 2011, a few months after Governor Chris Christie canceled the Access to the Region's Core tunnel.

Earlier this year, the proposed project received $185 million in federal funding. It fell under the category of 'Sandy aid' because October's superstorm highlighted the fact that tunnel upgrades are sorely needed.