Pearl Kamer, chief economist for the Long Island Association said the tunnel would stimulate business and cut transportation costs.

"It would be a good thing for the entire Long Island economy," wrote Lee Koppelman of the Long Island Regional Planning Board.

State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos also said such a facility would benefit Island businesses, but wondered if sufficient funds existed to meet both rail freight and passenger needs.

The Campaign's Janine Bauer said agencies should expand cross-harbor rail car float operations in the immediate future, while Congressman Jerry Nadler wrote that the tunnel would pay for itself in six years with tolls. Port Authority and NY State DOT officials expressed support for NYC's look at rail freight access. The only opposition came from NYU's Mitchell Moss, who wrote a report saying investing in a cross-harbor tunnel would not pay off in terms of Brooklyn's economy or reduced truck traffic (see MTR #203). The NYC Economic Development Corporation disputes Moss' findings.