Our Region Is Crumbling, But At Least Well Have Two Useless, Expensive Airport Trains

Today, the Port Authority board approved a five-year, $32 billion capital spending program. The mantra from supporters of the plan, which reflects the questionable transportation priorities of Governors Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie, was simple: it’s not perfect — hell, it might be seriously flawed — but it’s what we’ve got.

What we’ve got, however, throws billions of dollars at shiny projects with little value to the region’s transportation network, while leaving commuters stuck with underfunded, overcrowded PATH trains and bus terminals.

“We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” said Gary LaBarbera of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “Let’s get the shovels in the ground and let’s build now.”

The problem with plowing ahead, which is what Port Authority commissioners unanimously did today, is that the entire process is so beholden to the governors who actually run the show at the bi-state agency that critical transportation needs are going unfunded.

Read more: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/our-region-is-crumbling-but-at-least-we-ll-have-two-useless-expensive-airport-trains-9685444