There is more to the Amtrak Office of Inspector General report concerning problems with project management for the $33 billion Gateway Tunnel project.

Some of the key elements of the Gateway Tunnel project include the construction of two new Hudson River tunnels and repairs to the two existing 110-year-old tunnels damaged by 2012 Super Storm Sandy connecting Penn Station New York with New Jersey Amtrak Northeast corridor used by both NJ Transit and Amtrak. Ninety days after a contract is awarded, it is common for the contractor submitting a detailed construction schedule that includes the critical path for completion of the project.

This is reviewed and approved by the transit agency. The critical path documents what any future delays could trigger other delays to the overall project schedule

For example, take construction of the NJ-based $1.6 billion Portal Bridge which supports Amtrak and NJ Transit access to Penn Station. It integrates the scheduling of work to be performed by the prime contractor, Skanska, with all 15 subcontractors.

If the work of one falls behind their portion of the project, it could delay the start of work by another subcontractor or Skanska. This, in turn, would delay progress for the overall project. The more subcontractors you have, the greater the risk of something could go wrong.

How many subcontractors will be hired for the $12 billion first phase (two new tunnels and repairs to the two original 110-year-old tunnels) and $33 billion full scope Gateway project?

Any successful transit project, especially those over $100 million and/or in receipt of a Federal Transit Administration Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) should not only have an approved Project Management Plan, but also a Quality Assurance and Quality Control Plan (this is used to ensure that the contractor builds to the design and engineering specifications, Fleet Management Plan, Annual Force Account (in house employees who work with and provide support to third party contractors) and Annual Track Outage Plan.

This also includes up-to-date approved Title VI, Equal Employment Opportunity, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Americans With Disabilities Act programs.

These are some of the transit health food groups that lend themselves to any transit agency, be it Amtrak, MTA, NJ Transit or the Gateway Development Corporation completing a significant federal transit investment on time, within budget, built to the design and engineering specifications so that it will remain in beneficial use for the promised intended useful life.

Taxpayers and commuters deserve no less.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office.