Amid a tough fiscal season for state governments, the Port Authority’s 2005 budget seems an island of relative calm. It includes $1.7 billion in transportation spending, including the start of construction for a permanent World Trade Center site PATH station, new PATH train cars and various airport and infrastructure upkeep projects.

The PA budget will also pay for the initial study of connecting the Long Island Rail Road to lower Manhattan. The project has emerged as a favorite project of downtown business figures and leading politicians, but which transportation experts say will have very lower ridership unless it is integrated with the subway system.

In comments to reporters, Port Authority chairman Anthony Coscia indicated that a toll and PATH fare hike may be considered in 2006. Such increases tend to be more controversial in New Jersey, and getting through 2005 would avoid them becoming an issue in NJ’s statewide elections next year. However, toll hikes also cause an uproar on Staten Island, and a 2006 increase could land in the middle of the NY State race for governor.

The Port Authority also released a 10-year capital investment framework whose transportation elements are arranged in five "campaigns."

1. Transportation for a competitive export economy — linking major airports with economic centers. The theme mentions the lower Manhattan-LIRR link, airport improvements and LaGuardia ferries.

2. Transit-based economic growth — calls for economic development in transit-rich business districts. PA investments in transit could underwrite this in Lower Manhattan, Midtown’s West Side (via Moynihan station and new commuter rail capacity from New Jersey), expanded Lincoln Tunnel bus capacity and PATH upgrades.

3. Efficient goods movement — continued PA contribution to rail freight infrastructure and a port inland distribution network (rail and barge) and road improvements near port terminals.

4. State of the art infrastructure — harbor deepening, Goethals Bridge modernization, new PATH trains, signals and smart-card fare media.

5. Seamless regional travel — high-speed E-ZPass, PATH smart-cards, outreach to other agencies.

The PA budget and 10-year framework makes no mention of the possibility of the agency assuming financial responsibility for ailing cross-Hudson ferry service. 

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