A railroad tunnel to link Staten Island with Brooklyn was started July 19, 1923. There were plans to possibly expand the tunnel to link Manhattan and NJ. The mayor of NYC, John F. Hylan (Hylan Boulevard named for him), who also had an engineering background, was the leader of the tunnel project. The NY governor, Alfred Smith, opposed Mayor Hylan's plans. Politics influenced ending construction in 1925 after significant start-up funding was invested. Many plans were proposed to complete the tunnel in the years to come. Political rivalries and costs have always prevented agreement to complete the project and link Staten Island by rail to the other boroughs and NJ.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staten_Island_Tunnel
https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-subways-staten-island-1.22789344
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staten_Island_Tunnel
https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-subways-staten-island-1.22789344
