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What do you guys thinking about Jersey pulling the plug on the ARC tunnel? I was pissed, would reduce traffic to NYC and double NJ transit capacity overall. It had its problems like connections at Grand Central but why not adapt and overcome? It will be built eventually but why is this country unable to accomplish anything? At least the Second Ave subway is back in the works.
Last edited by nykeroutoftown; 10-20-2010 at 12:58 AM..
I do not doubt a tunnel is needed and massive overhaul is needed on mass transit from NJ to NYC in general. However NY isn't kicking in a dime to the project and they're forecasting project cost overruns to be as much as 5-6 Billion which would be all on the backs of the NJ taxpayers. This would be NJ's version of Massachusetts "Big Dig". I am glad the Governor is showing some fiscal responsibility here because his predecessors sure didn't ....Democrat OR Republican. You can bet Senator Lautenberg and Menendez are going to be missing out on some major kickbacks from this lost project which is why they were campaigning hard to the public to draw up support for it.
The original cost (well, the latest "original") is 8.7 billion. The feds are kicking in 3, the PA is kicking in 3, which leaves 2.7, which Jersey has budgeted for. What Jersey doesn't have the money for is projected overruns, for which various estimates have been bandied about depending upon which political entity is yammering, but regardless, overruns are inevitable and the money isn't there in Jersey for them. Like someone said, we all saw Boston's Big Dig.
The deadline for the feds to come up with a new financing strategy is Friday. My guess is that the result will be that the feds and the PA agree to share early overruns with Jersey maybe responsible for more down the road. Might even be some private money thrown in down the road. As I said, this is a guess. We shall see.
At first, I thought Christie was biting off his nose to spite his face, but now I think it is a brilliant move to bring the other funders to the table to deal with the overruns.
As a New Yorker, I don't care either way as the tunnel doesn't affect my life directly (plenty of people are willing to come into the city to work/innovate from other areas). However, as someone who is interested in sustainable transportation, I think it will be a short-sighted disaster if they don't work it out.
NJT should reinstate that Higher NYP-EWR fare and use the $$$ form that , NYC should chip in 1-2 billion$ for the project. It needs to be redesigned , the current plan is terrible.
Its a stunt to get more $ from the Feds. No way this project gets canceled. There is way too much at stake. Any I'm sorry NJ, but you already have some of the lowest taxes in the country, and your gas tax is microscopic, people need to spend a little more now (well not really now, as the costs wont be felt for few years) to get our transportation system into the 21st century. We are behind the times because people are unable to see the big picture when it comes to infrastructure development. The attitude is "If it doesn't directly affect my life, than I'm against it" Totally short-sighted and naive.
The project would be worth way more to NJ than any cost overruns could possibly cost, and it is a travesty that Christie is letting ideology and short-term thinking get ahead of reason and long-term planning. The project is absolutely essential for NJ--otherwise, the pressure on new families to live in NYC or NY suburbs rather than an increasingly delay-prone NJ suburbia will only become greater.
At first, I thought Christie was biting off his nose to spite his face, but now I think it is a brilliant move to bring the other funders to the table to deal with the overruns.
As a New Yorker, I don't care either way as the tunnel doesn't affect my life directly (plenty of people are willing to come into the city to work/innovate from other areas). However, as someone who is interested in sustainable transportation, I think it will be a short-sighted disaster if they don't work it out.
Basically my sentiments. Whats in it for new york. Im glad we arent helping to fund it. Billions of dollars from ny taxpayers for a bridge that benefits new jersey...for what?
Basically my sentiments. Whats in it for new york. Im glad we arent helping to fund it. Billions of dollars from ny taxpayers for a bridge that benefits new jersey...for what?
Well, we who work in NYC pay your high nonresident state income tax, for one, and we spend money there, too, shopping, restaurants, etc., during our work week. But NYC doesn't have money to contribute to this tunnel and I don't think realistically anyone is expecting the city to do so. You have your own fun and excitement with the MTA to deal with.
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