November 20, 2008
Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12), Senator Tom Kean (R-21)
Seventeen members of the Senate Republican Caucus sent a letter, to New York Governor David Paterson, today asking that the State of New York contribute to the Cost of the new Trans-Hudson tunnel project. The original cost of the project has jumped to more than $9.1 in the last three months. The letter is attached.
In the letter the members state that: “New Jersey has already committed to paying $1.25 billion towards the cost of the tunnel, with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the federal government committing to an additional $6 billion. However, New Jersey’s share of the project is actually far greater and may grow closer to $3 billion in light of the increased $1.1 billion cost of the project and the $400 million cost of additional trains, which has not been reflected in previous cost estimates.”
November 20, 2008
The Honorable David A. Paterson
Governor State of New York
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Dear Governor Paterson:
We write to you in regard to the Access to the Regions Core (ARC) tunnel project.
In August we wrote to you to request that New York State contribute some of the $7.5 billion that the project was estimated to cost. As we stated at the time, “The cost of such a key addition to the region’s transportation system, which will be tremendously beneficial to the entire Northeast region, should not be borne by one state but should be shared equally between New York and New Jersey.”
Last week, New Jersey Transit announced that due largely to the Federal Transit Administration’s request for increased project contingency levels and an upward revision of the assumed rate of inflation over the life of the project to 4.25%, the cost of the project had increased by $1.1 billion.
In light of this upward revision of the project costs, we, the undersigned, as representatives of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, must reiterate our request that New York State contribute materially to the cost of this project.
New Jersey has already committed to paying $1.25 billion towards the cost of the tunnel, with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the federal government committing to an additional $6 billion. However, New Jersey’s share of the project is actually far greater and may grow closer to $3 billion in light of the increased $1.1 billion cost of the project and the $400 million cost of additional trains, which has not been reflected in previous cost estimates.
We reiterate our belief that New York will be a major beneficiary of this new tunnel, not only economically but environmentally, and as such should be obligated to pay for a portion of the project.
The courtesy of a reply would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Senator Jennifer Beck Senator Tom Kean, Jr. Senator Diane Allen
Senator Bill Baroni Senator Kip Bateman Senator Anthony Bucco
Senator Gerald Cardinale Senator Andrew Ciesla Senator Chris Connors
Senator Philip Haines Senator Sean Kean Senator Joseph Kyrillos
Senator Leonard Lance Senator Kevin O’Toole Senator Steven Oroho
Senator Joseph Pennacchio Senator Robert Singer
Link to Post:
Similar Posts:
- Beck Letter to Governor Paterson Demands NY Pay Its Fair Share of Trans-Hudson Tunnel
August 6, 2008 - Beck Urges Governor Corzine to Press N.Y. to Pay Its Fair Share of Trans-Hudson Tunnel
October 29, 2008 - Kean: United Senate Republican Caucus Calls For Moratorium On New Spending
January 24, 2008 - Senate Republican Caucus United in Opposition to Toll Revenue Diversion
October 6, 2008 - O’Toole: Tunnel Funding Deadline Is Near — Or Is It?
July 15, 2008
