Gateway’s already on right track

Newark: Your editorial (“Gateway vs. the right way,” Feb. 23) highlights the need for rehabilitation of the Hudson Rail Tunnel. Indeed, there should be no doubt that the Gateway Development Corp. is 100% committed to replacing a failing 108-year-old, onetrack-in, one-track-out system as quickly and cost-effectively as possible in a way that best serves 200,000 daily riders. However, your editorial contains several misstatements.

First, the “$30 billion price tag” for the entire Gateway Program is not accurate. Over the last two years, we have focused on the critical needs of the project — rehabbing the existing century-old tunnel, replacing the Portal Bridge and constructing a new, 21st-century tunnel (thereby eliminating a single point of failure). The estimated price of the latter two projects is approximately $14 billion, and we’re working to reduce costs.

Second, we are open to any and all innovative ideas that meet the reliability and safety requirements of the projects. Our partners at Amtrak are already exploring whether the L train “racking” idea can work in its tunnels. Despite substantial differences between the projects, if there is a way to safely and efficiently rehabilitate the existing two tubes without a new tunnel and without disrupting service up and down the Northeast Corridor, of course we will do it.

The Daily News is right that we need to “fix two tunnels that were flooded with saltwater by Superstorm Sandy, and to add capacity for commuters.” Rehab of the existing tubes is just one piece of that larger Gateway puzzle. Ultimately, we need a new Portal Bridge and a new Hudson Tunnel adding two more tracks that connect to an expanded Penn Station, so new capacity has somewhere to go. It’s time to stop the second-guessing and get to work. Jerry Zaro, Tony Coscia, Steven M. Cohen, trustees

Gateway Program Development Corp.

Doing the right thing

Hartsdale, L.I.: Loved the Academy Awards Sunday night and the opening song set a tone and tempo that allowed me to remain awake for the entire show. “The Green Book” was well deserved as Best Picture and should be an example for all of us to aspire to — break down the hate. Spike Lee’s win was long overdue; I loved most of his speech regarding slaves and his grandma’s sacrifice. And that had me thinking. Jews were killed during the Holocaust and given no choice. I’m sure if they had been (Nazi death or slave), many would have opted for the latter. The survivors put much of their savings into their kids and grandkids’ education as a priority. To Mr. Lee and all others: We are all in many ways different, and in many ways all the same. We need to stop hating and hurt and have all of God’s children work for a common goal where peace and understanding of all is a way of life. Those who intentionally hurt and harm others regardless of color, race or religion have no place in our children’s world or ours.

Robert Stein

Speaking the right thing

Manhattan: Congrats to Spike Lee (“President Trump accuses Spike Lee of doing ‘racist hit’ on him at Oscars,” Feb. 25). But apparently The News didn’t listen to the whole speech, as I did. Lee used profane language in his speech. That is why you heard a silence when he started, before the audio picked up in the middle of his sentence. What would your grandmother say, Mr. Lee, regarding your use of bad language? Shame on you. As for you saying something negative about the President of the United States: What did ex-President Obama do for you? Congrats again!

Christine Blasucci

Self-centered Hollywood

East Meadow, L.I.: Another year, another Academy Award