Editing Holland Tunnel (section)

==== Initial plans ====
In 1906, the New York and New Jersey Interstate Bridge Commission, a consortium of three groups, was formed to consider the need for a crossing across the [[Hudson River]] between [[New York City]] and [[New Jersey]].<ref name="New York Sun 1919" /> That year, three railroads asked the commission to consider building a railroad bridge over the river.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1906/06/29/archives/railroads-would-use-a-hudson-river-bridge-interstate-commission.html|title=Railroads Would Use A Hudson River Bridge|date=June 29, 1906|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225234/https://www.nytimes.com/1906/06/29/archives/railroads-would-use-a-hudson-river-bridge-interstate-commission.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1908, the commission considered building three bridges across the Hudson River at [[57th Street (Manhattan)|57th]], [[110th Street (Manhattan)|110th]], and [[179th Street (Manhattan)|179th]] Streets in [[Manhattan]]. The reasoning was that bridges would be cheaper than tunnels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1908/12/06/archives/want-three-bridges-across-north-river-engineers-favor-structures-to.html|title=Want Three Bridges Across North River|date=December 6, 1908|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155253/https://www.nytimes.com/1908/12/06/archives/want-three-bridges-across-north-river-engineers-favor-structures-to.html|url-status=live}}</ref> These three locations were considered to be the only suitable locations for suspension bridges; other sites were rejected on the grounds of aesthetics, geography, or traffic flows.<ref name="New York Sun 1919" /><ref name="nyt-1913-04-22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/04/22/archives/tunnels-not-bridge-favored-to-jersey-new-york-state-commission.html|title=Tunnels Not Bridge Favored To Jersey|date=April 22, 1913|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155240/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/04/22/archives/tunnels-not-bridge-favored-to-jersey-new-york-state-commission.html|url-status=live}}</ref> John Vipond Davies, one of the partners for the consulting firm Jacobs and Davies (which had constructed the Uptown Hudson Tubes), wanted to build a vehicular tunnel between Canal Street, Manhattan, and 13th Street, Jersey City. This proposal would compete with the six-lane suspension bridge at 57th Street.<ref name="nyt-1912-12-22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1912/12/22/archives/proposed-30000000-suspension-bridge-over-the-hudson-river-with-a.html|title=Proposed $30,000,000 Suspension Bridge Over the Hudson River, with a New York Approach Near West Fifty-Seventh Street|date=December 22, 1912|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155408/https://www.nytimes.com/1912/12/22/archives/proposed-30000000-suspension-bridge-over-the-hudson-river-with-a.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some plans provided for the construction of both the bridge and the tunnel.<ref name="nyt-1912-12-22" /><ref name="New York Herald 1913" /> The ferries could not accommodate all of the 19,600 vehicles per day, as of 1913, that traveled between New York and New Jersey.<ref name="New York Herald 1913">{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Herald%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Herald%25201913%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Herald%25201913%2520-%25205165.pdf|title=Wagon Subways Under North River To Vie With Great Bridge in Linking Two States|date=June 1, 1913|work=New York Herald|access-date=May 2, 2018|pages=2|via=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225232916/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/New%20York%20NY%20Herald/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201913/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201913%20-%205165.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bridge Commission hosted several meetings to tell truck drivers about the details of both the 57th Street Bridge and Canal Street Tunnel plans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/03/07/archives/motor-truck-men-to-hear-river-plan-commissions-of-new-york-and-new.html|title=Motor Truck Men To Hear River Plan|date=March 7, 1914|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155315/https://www.nytimes.com/1914/03/07/archives/motor-truck-men-to-hear-river-plan-commissions-of-new-york-and-new.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[United States Department of War]] brought up concerns about the 57th Street bridge plans: the span would need to be at least {{convert|200|ft|m}} above the mean high water to avoid interfering with shipping.<ref name="Gillespie 2011" />{{Rp|13}} By comparison, the tunnel would be {{convert|95|ft|m}} below mean water level.<ref name="New York Herald 1913" /> The Interstate Bridge Commission, which had been renamed the [[New York State Bridge and Tunnel Commission]] in April 1913,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W48oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA144|title=Greater New York: Bulletin of the Merchants' Association of New York|date=1913|publisher=Merchants' Association of New York|pages=144|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225232914/https://books.google.com/books?id=W48oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA144|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FSaratoga%2520Springs%2520NY%2520Saratogian%2FSaratoga%2520Springs%2520NY%2520Saratogian%25201913%2FSaratoga%2520Springs%2520NY%2520Saratogian%25201913%2520-%25200576.pdf|title=HUDSON TUNNEL BILL SIGNED|date=April 4, 1913|work=The Saratogian|access-date=April 16, 2018|via=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225232915/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2021/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian%201913/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian%201913%20-%200576.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> published a report that same month, stating that the Canal Street tunnel would cost $11&nbsp;million while the 57th Street bridge would cost $42&nbsp;million.<ref name="nyt-1913-04-22" /> In October 1913, Jacobs and Davies stated that a pair of tunnels, with each tube carrying traffic in one direction, would cost only $11&nbsp;million, while a bridge might cost over $50&nbsp;million. The low elevation and deep bedrock of [[Lower Manhattan]] was more conducive to a tunnel than to a bridge.<ref name="Gillespie 2011" />{{Rp|13–14}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/01/19/archives/tunnel-instead-of-bridge-mr-davies-shows-that-traffic-and-cost.html|title=Tunnel Instead of Bridge|date=January 19, 1913|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225434/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/01/19/archives/tunnel-instead-of-bridge-mr-davies-shows-that-traffic-and-cost.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="New York Herald 1913 2">{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/New%20York%20NY%20Herald/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201913/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201913%20-%208175.pdf|title=Driveway Under Hudson to Join States Is Urge|date=October 5, 1913|work=New York Herald|access-date=May 2, 2018|pages=1|via=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|archive-date=November 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113151916/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/New%20York%20NY%20Herald/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201913/New%20York%20NY%20Herald%201913%20-%208175.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of that year, the consulting engineers for both the 57th Street Bridge and the Canal Street Tunnel had submitted their plans to the Bridge and Tunnel Commission.<ref name="nyt-1913-12-28">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/12/28/archives/connecting-links-between-new-york-and-new-jersey.html|title=Connecting Links Between New York and New Jersey|date=December 28, 1913|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155610/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/12/28/archives/connecting-links-between-new-york-and-new-jersey.html|url-status=live}}</ref> New York City merchants mainly advocated for the tunnel plan, while New Jerseyans and New York automobile drivers mostly supported the bridge plan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/12/11/archives/new-yorkers-favor-tunnel-to-jersey-sister-states-representatives-at.html|title=New Yorkers Favor Tunnel To Jersey|date=December 11, 1913|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504162926/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/12/11/archives/new-yorkers-favor-tunnel-to-jersey-sister-states-representatives-at.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, the New York State Bridge and Tunnel Commission indicated that it favored the Canal Street tunnel plan. On the other hand, the 57th Street bridge plan remained largely forgotten.<ref name="New York Herald 1913 2" /><ref name="nyt-1913-12-28" />

The Public Service Commission of New Jersey published a report in April 1917, stating that the construction of a Hudson River vehicle tunnel from Lower Manhattan to Jersey City was feasible.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/06/09/archives/new-board-to-plan-for-jersey-tunnels-governor-edge-appoints-com.html|title=New Board To Plan For Jersey Tunnels|date=June 9, 1917|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225347/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/06/09/archives/new-board-to-plan-for-jersey-tunnels-governor-edge-appoints-com.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That June, following this report, [[Walter Evans Edge]], then [[Governor of New Jersey]], convened the Hudson River Bridge and Tunnel Commission of New Jersey, which would work with the New York Bridge and Tunnel Commission to construct the new tunnel.<ref name="Gillespie 2011" />{{Rp|15}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/04/08/archives/hudson-river-tunnel-plan-public-service-commission-of-nj-completes.html|title=Hudson River Tunnel Plan|date=April 8, 1917|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504162902/https://www.nytimes.com/1917/04/08/archives/hudson-river-tunnel-plan-public-service-commission-of-nj-completes.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  In March 1918, a report was sent to the New York State Legislature, advocating for the construction of the tunnel as soon as possible.<ref name="nyt-1918-03-18">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1918/03/18/archives/urges-new-tunnel-under-the-hudson-state-commission-advocates-its.html|title=Urges New Tunnel Under The Hudson|date=March 18, 1918|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504162842/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/03/18/archives/urges-new-tunnel-under-the-hudson-state-commission-advocates-its.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, six million dollars in funding for the Hudson River Tunnel was proposed in two bills presented to subcommittees of the [[United States Senate]] and [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1918/06/29/archives/ask-nation-to-share-in-tunnel-to-jersey-calder-and-eagan-introduce.html|title=Ask Nation To Share In Tunnel To Jersey|date=June 29, 1918|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504162833/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/06/29/archives/ask-nation-to-share-in-tunnel-to-jersey-calder-and-eagan-introduce.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1918-03-18" /> The bill was voted down by the [[United States Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce|Interstate Commerce Committee]] before it could be presented to the full Senate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1918/12/13/archives/hudson-tube-bill-rejected-senate-committee-declines-to-approve.html|title=Hudson Tube Bill Rejected|date=December 13, 1918|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504155357/https://www.nytimes.com/1918/12/13/archives/hudson-tube-bill-rejected-senate-committee-declines-to-approve.html|url-status=live}}</ref>