With states and cities in such a bad way, it is worth remembering how a previous generation rebuilt America during the Depression’s bleakest years. The elegant George Washington Bridge opened in 1931. The Triborough Bridge followed five years later. Ribbons were cut for the Lincoln Tunnel in 1937, and La Guardia Airport opened officially in 1939.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey must have missed those history lessons. In recent months, he canceled the first new commuter rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York in 100 years. That project, with the federal government committed to footing as much as a third of the bill, would have created jobs and relieved commuting congestion sure to get much worse.
Now Governor Christie is trying to reroute $1.8 billion of the $3 billion the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had committed to the tunnel project to help pay for road maintenance in his state. Those repairs should be covered by the State of New Jersey, most easily by adding a tiny increase in its low gasoline tax.
That sensible idea doesn’t sit well with Mr. Christie and his conservative fan club. Instead, he wants to take money from the one agency in the area that was created to build the big projects — new airports, bridges, ground zero, tunnels — that the region needs. Meanwhile, we are hearing whispers that Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York could also decide that he needs to cannibalize the Port Authority budget to help balance his budget.
The authority’s 10 commissioners who are appointed by the two governors should resist any such pressure. Instead, the authority should work with Amtrak, the United States Department of Transportation, Congress and New York City to find another way to relieve commuter traffic between New York and New Jersey.
A plan, floated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to extend the No. 7 subway line to Secaucus, N.J., is one possibility. An Amtrak proposal to create a new Hudson tunnel as part of a high-speed rail system is promising.
That idea has the support of Representative John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — a refreshing contrast to some of his Republican colleagues who want to wipe out Amtrak’s subsidy. We are glad some politicians are thinking about the future.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey must have missed those history lessons. In recent months, he canceled the first new commuter rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York in 100 years. That project, with the federal government committed to footing as much as a third of the bill, would have created jobs and relieved commuting congestion sure to get much worse.
Now Governor Christie is trying to reroute $1.8 billion of the $3 billion the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had committed to the tunnel project to help pay for road maintenance in his state. Those repairs should be covered by the State of New Jersey, most easily by adding a tiny increase in its low gasoline tax.
That sensible idea doesn’t sit well with Mr. Christie and his conservative fan club. Instead, he wants to take money from the one agency in the area that was created to build the big projects — new airports, bridges, ground zero, tunnels — that the region needs. Meanwhile, we are hearing whispers that Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York could also decide that he needs to cannibalize the Port Authority budget to help balance his budget.
The authority’s 10 commissioners who are appointed by the two governors should resist any such pressure. Instead, the authority should work with Amtrak, the United States Department of Transportation, Congress and New York City to find another way to relieve commuter traffic between New York and New Jersey.
A plan, floated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to extend the No. 7 subway line to Secaucus, N.J., is one possibility. An Amtrak proposal to create a new Hudson tunnel as part of a high-speed rail system is promising.
That idea has the support of Representative John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — a refreshing contrast to some of his Republican colleagues who want to wipe out Amtrak’s subsidy. We are glad some politicians are thinking about the future.
