By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Transportation Department released Monday’s budget. It calls for $100 million to start a $12.3 billion project. This will build a tunnel for trains between New York City, New Jersey, and rebuild an existing one.

Biden’s administration also calls for Amtrak to receive more funding than the $22 Billion approved by the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

Amtrak needs $3 billion annually to be funded by the administration for 2023, an increase of $2.33 trillion in previous annual funding.

Amtrak will receive $7.4 billion total in 2023 funding including the infrastructure bill. The company wants to increase its footprint across America and build up to 39 corridors and as many as 166 cities before 2035.

It would also mark the federal government’s first support of the Hudson Tunnel project (NYSE. Biden also proposed $400 million for the $6.9billion Second Avenue Subway Extension.

“Public transit creates jobs, reduces traffic and pollution, and lowers the cost of living for people in the community,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Since 2012, when parts of New York City were flooded by a major storm, the Hudson tunnel project has been the topic of long-running Washington debate.

This tunnel is part of a number of improvements called “Gateway” that connect to the New York City area of the Northeast Rail Corridor, which runs from Washington, D.C., to New York.

Hudson River tunnel projects would see the increase in track count from 2 to 4, and the possibility of closing existing tunnels for repairs.

Trump, a former Republican president, fought with Democrats about the Hudson River Tunnel project. He did not agree to finance it.