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Sen. Mendendez Warns NJT Derailment Sign Of Trouble To Come

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - This morning's commute was much smoother, with NJ Transit having recovered from this week's derailment.

WCBS 880's Marla Diamond On The Story

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But it might not be smooth for much longer.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg warns the resulting problems will be more frequent with Gov. Chris Christie's cancellation of the Hudson River ARC Tunnel project.

That would have included two more tunnels under the river to relieve congestion.

Transit advocates say commuters shouldn't take it sitting down.

"They should be calling on the governor and asking how he plans to improve the cross-Hudson commute," says Janna Chernetz of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Christie agrees a second rail tunnel is needed, but says the project would come at too great an expense to the state.

Plus, federal funding could dry up quickly as lawmakers wrangle over renewing the transportation bill, as Sen. Robert Menendez warns.

"I hope we're not going to be held hostage as we were in the FAA reauthorization, because we can ill afford it in this economy," he says.

Mendendez hopes this week's derailment will serve as a wake-up call.

Nobody was injured in the derailment.

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