New Jersey Governor Christie has killed plans for a tunnel which would have diminished the friction of distance for many commuters and other travelers.
"The tunnel, which would have stretched under the Hudson from North Bergen, N.J., to a new station deep below 34th Street in Manhattan, was intended to double the number of trains that could enter the city from the west each day. The project’s planners said the additional trains would alleviate congestion on local roads, reduce pollution, help the growth of the region’s economy and raise property values for suburban homeowners," according to The New York Times.
This seems to me, at first blush, to be a classic confrontation between geography (which militated strongly in favor of the project) and politics (which allowed its demise because of economic posturing). Deeper analysis may put geographical forces on both sides of the issue. Physical geography -- the project lessens travel time and thus makes distant sites closer --loses out to cultural geography -- which informs the governor that political considerations among his conservative voting base makes this a wise electoral decision.
