PANYNJ seeks public input on proposed 2020 operating, capital budgets

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) this week unveiled its proposed 2020 operating and capital budgets for public review and comment.

The authority is proposing a $3.4 billion operating budget and a $3.6 billion capital budget, which includes $413 million for projects at the Port Authority-Trans Hudson Corp. (PATH) commuter railroad.

The operating budget proposes increased funding for safety and security at agency facilities; additional funding for customer initiatives at airports, PATH and the Port Authority Bus Terminal; and additional dollars to support operations for Newark AirTrain and JFK AirTrain, and the PATH Improvement Plan, PANYNJ officials said in a press release.

The authority's board is scheduled to consider the budgets on Dec. 12.

The budgets were developed in consideration of the authority's strategic priorities: improve safety and security; advance capital projects; enhance the customer experience; bolster operations; reduce the authority's environmental impact; and enhance facility resiliency.

The proposed 2020 capital budget continues funding for multiple projects to rebuild and replace the agency's legacy facilities, as well as a large set of projects to maintain assets in a state of good repair and improve resiliency in the post-Hurricane Sandy era.

Proposed capital expenditures for PATH include:
• $142 million for Hurricane Sandy recovery and resiliency projects, including rehabbing and replacing electrical substations, repair of electrical and communications equipment and installation of flood protection at stations and facilities;
• $23 million toward the signal system replacement program; and
• $9 million for station modifications on the Newark-WTC Line to accommodate nine-car train operations.

Proposed capital expenditures for the port include $10.6 million to construct a new intermodal rail facility for the Global Container Terminal-Bayonne. The project also includes full redevelopment of Greenville Yard A, which supports the intermodal container transfer facility and New York New Jersey Rail LLC operations.

“This proposed budget is a fiscally sound, prudent spending plan that allows the agency to continue to address its priorities and standards, including rebuilding legacy facilities, upgrading to provide improved customer experience to the traveling public and continuing to assure a world-class level of safety and security at our transportation facilities,” said PANYNJ Executive Director Rick Cotton.