January 13, 2017
To the Editor:
“With Bus Terminal Fuss Unabated, Port Authority Allocates Billions” (by Jackson Chen, Jan. 12-25) confirms to me that the proposed Port Authority of New York & New Jersey 10-year, $32 billion Capital Plan is disappointing. Only $3.5 billion is provided toward construction of the new $10 billion 42nd Street PA Bus Terminal. It is wishful thinking that the PANYNJ can count on $6.5 billion in future federal funding to make up the difference.
EXPRESS YOURSELVES: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The PANYNJ, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York City Department of Transportation, and other transportation agencies are counting on the same US Department of Transportation Federal Transit or Federal Highway Administration to help provide billions toward the $24 billion Gateway Tunnel, the $10 billion Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel, the $6 billion Phase Two Second Avenue Subway, the $200 million Metro North West Bronx Penn Station Access, the $600 million Staten Island North Shore Bus Rapid Transit, the $1.4 billion Staten Island West Shore Bus Rapid Transit, the $1 billion restoration of Long Island Rail Road service on the old Queens Rockaway LIRR branch, the $2 billion Triboro X Subway Express (a new line connecting the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn), and the $2.5 billion Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront Street Car Connector (connecting various neighborhoods along the waterfront from Sunset Park, Brooklyn to Astoria, Queens, among many others.
The PANYNJ’s blind faith reminds me of the cartoon character Wimpy, who famously said, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” Tuesday will never come for commuters and taxpayers who use and are looking for a new PANY NJ 42nd Street Bus Terminal within their lifetime.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
The writer is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.
WRITE US: Address letters of 250 words or less to Editor@ManhattanExpressNews.nyc or to Manhattan Express, One Metrotech Center North, Suite 1001, Brooklyn, NY 112101. The editors reserve the right to edit letters based on space and legal concerns.
