LA Times—Biggest public-works project in America Derails

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The nation’s biggest public-works project, a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, was canceled Wednesday when the governor of New Jersey announced that his state didn’t have the money to pay its share of the almost $9-billion cost.

Gov. Christopher Christie, a Republican, who came into office last year promising fiscal restraint, said New Jersey couldn’t afford the construction overruns. He previously rejected any gasoline tax increase to pay for the project.

"In the end, my decision does not change," Christie said at a news conference. "I cannot place upon the citizens of New Jersey an open-ended letter of credit, and that's what this project represents."

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7 Comments
Posted October 27, 2010 at 6:48 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. TomRightmyer wrote:

If New York and the federal government want the tunnel let them pay for it.

October 27, 7:27 pm | [comment link]
2. Br. Michael wrote:

Amen!  Except for the federal government which is our money.  Let NY foot the bill if they want it.

October 27, 9:08 pm | [comment link]
3. BlueOntario wrote:

I agree. I’ve been arguing against this sort of spending since a trip to Charlotte in the ‘90s when all I saw was new Interstate highway construction around the ‘burbs that was coming out of my pocket. Kinda the opposite of NIMBY. Pay for your own commute to work.

October 27, 9:28 pm | [comment link]
4. Fr. J. wrote:

We may be seeing a lot more of this kind of thing in the future.  No more “Big Digs,” if we dont first turn this economy around.

Indiana is a notoriously fiscally conservative state.  10 years ago, when some interstate ramps needed their bridges replaced, they just tore them down and created surface intersections.  Little more time. much less cost.

Now few even remember those bridges.  We can all live with less and will have to.

October 27, 11:41 pm | [comment link]
5. New Reformation Advocate wrote:

Of course, there is also the toll road solution.  Another way for the commuters to pay for it, although in this case, the costs may simply be prohibitively high.

Bravo, Gov. Christie!  This sort of honest, hard choice needs to be replicated over and over in state after state.

David Handy+

October 28, 9:43 am | [comment link]
6. magnolia wrote:

glad i don’t live there. houston and austin traffic is bad enough. would hate to have to sit for 45 minutes breathing car exhaust on a regular basis.
but…you get what you vote for.

October 28, 11:37 am | [comment link]
7. upnorfjoel wrote:

Christie for Prez….2012!

October 28, 7:12 pm | [comment link]
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