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The past year was a productive one for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), which is in the midst of its largest-ever capital improvement program.

In December, AirTrain JFK began, providing rail service from MTA Long Island Rail Road Co.’s Jamaica Station and the Howard Beach subway station to John F. Kennedy International Airport. A month earlier, the temporary Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) station opened at the World Trade Center site. And in June, the PATH Exchange Place station re-opened, restoring service to the Jersey City waterfront for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001.

"In 2003, the agency’s capital spending was at record levels," said Port Authority Vice Chairman Charles Gargano in a prepared statement. "Each dollar spent on these major infrastructure projects results in an improved transportation or economic development facility."

Last year, the authority also selected an architect for the permanent World Trade Center Transportation Hub, including a permanent PATH station and pedestrian connections. PANYNJ recently began the environmental review process for the project.

And, PANYNJ allotted $809 million to purchase 246 rail cars for the PATH fleet — the largest procurement in the agency’s history.