Friday, December 30, 2011

Courthouse News Service

Courthouse News Service: " A retired police officer filed a class action against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for revoking Port Authority retirees' rights to free tolls for life.

Thomas Westfield claims the Port Authority "unilaterally revoked [his] promised right to free passage at its Hudson River vehicular crossings," a right that "had been promised upon starting employment at the Port Authority," as "a lifetime benefit.""

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Hudson Reporter - A city in change Bayonne held its own in 2011

Hudson Reporter - A city in change Bayonne held its own in 2011: "Plans for raising the height of the Bayonne Bridge were unveiled in early January, to the relief of residents and local officials who had feared loss of their property. The existing bridge imposed a severe impediment to shipping, which is the region’s principle industry. New cargo ships due to begin arriving in the area after the opening of the newly-widened Panama Canal would not be able to fit under the bridge. By year’s end, Port Authority officials said the plans were ahead of schedule for work to raise the roadbed.

The bridge celebrated its 80th birthday this year, a significant milestone for historians who noted that its construction coincided with some of the other great engineering achievements of the 1930s, such as the George Washington Bridge and The Empire State Building."

'via Blog this'

Friday, December 16, 2011

Proposed bill would give feds authority to roll back Port Authority toll hikes | NJ.com

Proposed bill would give feds authority to roll back Port Authority toll hikes | NJ.com: "Setting the stage for a political showdown, two U.S. lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill today that would give the federal transportation secretary authority to roll back toll increases imposed by agencies that receive federal funds."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Choose the top Staten Island news stories of 2011 | SILive.com

Choose the top Staten Island news stories of 2011 | SILive.com: "The Port Authority of New York and Jew Jersey pushes through a large, controversial multiyear toll increase, which will see commuters paying a total increase of $4.50 through 2015 on the Outerbridge Crossing and the Bayonne and Goethals bridges

Transportation makes headlines: MTA plans to replace the entire upper deck of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, work continues on the Staten Island Expressway and at the St. George Ferry Terminal, massive delays slow traffic at the New Jersey crossings on Easter Sunday, construction companies vie to replace the Goethals Bridge and plans are for the Bayonne Bridge to rise to new heights"

'via Blog this'

Bayonne Bridge dredging | SILive.com

Henry Hudson Bridge is 75 years old; span led to the development of modern-day Riverdale   - NY Daily News

Henry Hudson Bridge is 75 years old; span led to the development of modern-day Riverdale - NY Daily News: "Today, an average 63,000 cars use the bridge daily - but no trucks are allowed."

'via Blog this'

Port Strategy - NY/NJ port projects secure $346m funding

Port Strategy - NY/NJ port projects secure $346m funding: "New York/New Jersey port authority is to invest $346m in port projects for 2012, in addition to the $15m it will spend on increasing air draft clearance under the Bayonne Bridge."

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Bayonne Bridge may be as high as it ought to be | SILive.com

Bayonne Bridge may be as high as it ought to be | SILive.com: "This letter was sent to First District Bridge Branch of the First Coast Guard District, with a copy to the Staten Island Advance"

'via Blog this'

At 75, the Henry Hudson Bridge is showing its age | History News Network

At 75, the Henry Hudson Bridge is showing its age | History News Network: "It is one of the least-used bridges in the region’s arsenal, but its operations have piled up over the years, closing lanes and upsetting commuters bound for the many gilded Westchester County suburbs it serves."

'via Blog this'

Monday, December 12, 2011

Cuomo’s DOT Gets Cracking on a Tappan Zee Without Transit | Streetsblog New York City

Cuomo’s DOT Gets Cracking on a Tappan Zee Without Transit | Streetsblog New York City: "Despite intense opposition from nearly every local elected official and a total lack of public input on the new design, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Transportation are moving forward with plans to build a new Tappan Zee Bridge without transit."

'via Blog this'

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

the bayonne bridge. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

the bayonne bridge. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!:

'via Blog this'

Port Authority Lowers Threshold For Discounts For S.I. Bridge Crossings - NY1.com

Port Authority Lowers Threshold For Discounts For S.I. Bridge Crossings - NY1.com: "Those enrolled will now pay $47.50 for 10 trips in a 30-day period."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority to spend $2B on Trade Center | The Asbury Park Press | APP.com

Port Authority to spend $2B on Trade Center | The Asbury Park Press | APP.com: "Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials approved a $7 billion budget for 2012, which holds staffing to the same 2011 level of 6,177 employees and plows more than $2 billion into rebuilding the World Trade Center site."

'via Blog this'

Gov. Christie lashes out at Port Authority exec, cites inconsistent toll hike figures | NJ.com

Gov. Christie lashes out at Port Authority exec, cites inconsistent toll hike figures | NJ.com: "The issue involves differences between the Port Authority’s public statements justifying the September toll increase, and what its lawyers are now saying in defending the agency against a lawsuit seeking to overturn the increase."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Port Authority defends toll hikes in courtroom - NorthJersey.com

Port Authority defends toll hikes in courtroom - NorthJersey.com: "The Port Authority defended its handling of recent toll hikes in the courtroom and in the board room on Thursday, insisting that agency officials never said the extra money would be used to rebuild the World Trade Center."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority employees' salaries will be posted online | NJ.com

Port Authority employees' salaries will be posted online | NJ.com: "Effective Friday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will post the salaries of all 6,777 employees on its website."

'via Blog this'

NY-NJ Port Authority to Spend $361 Million on Maritime Projects | Journal of Commerce

NY-NJ Port Authority to Spend $361 Million on Maritime Projects | Journal of Commerce: "The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2012 plans to spend $345.9 million on seaport projects and another $15.2 million on work related to the planned elevation of the Bayonne Bridge."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority approves limited residential toll discounts on Staten Island bridges | SILive.com

Port Authority approves limited residential toll discounts on Staten Island bridges | SILive.com: "The Port Authority has given the green light to limited residential toll discounts on its Staten Island bridges -- which could save up to $600 a year for drivers who make frequent trips to New Jersey. "

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Are you taking the George Washington Bridge less since the toll hike? | NJ.com

Are you taking the George Washington Bridge less since the toll hike? | NJ.com: "Considering the tolls have gone up, and we're not even sure where they're going, a lot of people are grumbling about taking the Port Authority-controlled bridges and tunnels to New York."

'via Blog this'

USCG Requesting Comments | BoatSafe Blog

USCG Requesting Comments | BoatSafe Blog: "A preliminary application has been received by the Commander, First Coast Guard District from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) for a U. S. Coast Guard Bridge Permit for modification to the Bayonne Bridge across Kill Van Kull between Staten Island, NY and Bayonne, NJ. PANYNJ proposes to increase the navigational clearance beneath the bridge by raising the vehicular roadway within the existing tied arch truss structure."

'via Blog this'

Monday, December 5, 2011

Public-Private Partnerships Won’t Solve New York’s Transpo Funding Crisis | Streetsblog New York City

Public-Private Partnerships Won’t Solve New York’s Transpo Funding Crisis | Streetsblog New York City: "New York’s transportation system is essentially broke, with both transit and road networks in precarious condition. PPPs can be politically appealing as a way to pay for transportation projects without directly tapping public budgets. But while certain kinds of PPPs might help speed projects along or reduce costs, the private sector doesn’t provide something for nothing. The public will eventually pay for these projects somehow."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority Toll Hikes Mean Many More PATH Riders: Gothamist

Port Authority Toll Hikes Mean Many More PATH Riders: Gothamist: "If the point of the Port Authority's September toll hikes was to push more people to take mass transit, they've worked like a charm. Between September 19th and November 22nd, PATH ridership between Manhattan and New Jersey saw an uptick of about 560,000 riders (or 3.7 percent). Meanwhile 890,000 fewer cars and trucks used the Port Authority's bridges and tunnels in that period. Still, there is good news all around: The Port Authority is expecting to take in 20 percent more revenue than it did last year."

'via Blog this'

N.Y. congressman: Cuomo 'sold out' New York in Port Authority toll-hike deal | NJ.com

N.Y. congressman: Cuomo 'sold out' New York in Port Authority toll-hike deal | NJ.com: "At New York's expense, New Jersey stands to benefit from the recent deal to increase tolls on Port Authority bridges and tunnels, said N.Y. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island), according to a report on SILive.com."

'via Blog this'

Grimm says governor "sold out" Staten Island with Port Authority toll hikes | SILive.com

Grimm says governor "sold out" Staten Island with Port Authority toll hikes | SILive.com: "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have failed Staten Island miserably when it comes to the fight against Port Authority toll hikes, Rep. Michael Grimm charged."

'via Blog this'

New laws could sink Staten Island's maritime industry | SILive.com

New laws could sink Staten Island's maritime industry | SILive.com: "A potential new threat from the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) could shutter maritime businesses from Staten Island to Canada, costing billions in lost revenue and jobs, and could affect the billion-dollar project to raise the Bayonne Bridge."

'via Blog this'

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Hoboken Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. calls for Port Authority to freeze its toll and fare hikes until agency's finances are inspected | NJ.com

Hoboken Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. calls for Port Authority to freeze its toll and fare hikes until agency's finances are inspected | NJ.com:

'via Blog this'

The Staten Island Sun - Occupy the Port Authority tolls

The Staten Island Sun - Occupy the Port Authority tolls: "It may be hard to explain Occupy Wall Street protests against business corruption. But the rally in Port Richmond Saturday made its cause quite clear.

Bridge tolls are too damn high."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority says it’s ahead of schedule on Bayonne Bridge raising

Port Authority says it’s ahead of schedule on Bayonne Bridge raising: "“We are on schedule if not a little bit ahead of our schedule internally,” deputy executive director Bill Baroni told real estate, shipping and logistics executives Friday morning at a NAIOP New Jersey event at the New York Shipping Association Training Center in Elizabeth."

'via Blog this'

Friday, December 2, 2011

New Pedestrian Plaza Headed To Staten Island - NY1.com

New Pedestrian Plaza Headed To Staten Island - NY1.com: "It’s unusual because the plaza will be built on the shore of the Kill Van Kull, a major hub for cargo ships that sits right next to the Bayonne Bridge."

'via Blog this'

10 record-breaking bridges - CNN.com

10 record-breaking bridges - CNN.com: "We've rounded up 10 of the most remarkable examples here, along with insider tips on how best to experience them." Unfortunately, The Bayonne Bridge did not make the cut.

'via Blog this'

2 Staten Island legislators slam Port Authority over WTC 'flip-flop' | SILive.com

2 Staten Island legislators slam Port Authority over WTC 'flip-flop' | SILive.com: "Staten Island's two freshmen Republican lawmakers yesterday laced into the Port Authority for its toll increase "flip-flop" after the agency admitted its summer bridge and tunnel hikes weren't to pay for World Trade Center redevelopment, as it had claimed."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, December 1, 2011

NY-NJ Port Expects 4 Percent Container Growth | Journal of Commerce

NY-NJ Port Expects 4 Percent Container Growth | Journal of Commerce: "The port authority is targeting a 2016 completion date for raising the Bayonne Bridge’s 151-foot vertical clearance to 215 feet to handle larger ships bound for terminals in Newark and Elizabeth, N.J., and Staten Island, N.Y."

'via Blog this'

Questionable Facelift for a Beauty | Wind Against Current

Questionable Facelift for a Beauty | Wind Against Current: "Why is this happening? As the graphic shows, container ships are growing to huge proportions—much larger than was even remotely foreseen in 1931 when the Bayonne Bridge opened. But until now, the size of these ships has been limited by their need to fit through the Panama Canal. This “Panamax” generation of ships still fits under the Bayonne Bridge (although barely, as Tugster has documented here and here and here)."

'via Blog this'

Bayonne Bridge « CBS New York

bayonne bridge « CBS New York: Various articles from CBS New York.

'via Blog this'

The Yeshiva World Conflicting Statements About Port Authority Using Toll Increase Money For WTC « » Frum Jewish News

The Yeshiva World Conflicting Statements About Port Authority Using Toll Increase Money For WTC « » Frum Jewish News: "“Well, the Port Authority is submitting documents that are completely contrasting to things that they have said before,” Sinclair told Haskell."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority 'lied' about its reason for big toll hikes, says Staten Island's Sen. Lanza | SILive.com

Port Authority 'lied' about its reason for big toll hikes, says Staten Island's Sen. Lanza | SILive.com: "Remember this summer's bridge and tunnel toll increases that were needed to help pay for redeveloping the World Trade Center? It looks as though the extra money isn't going there after all."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Critics blast Port Authority for changing position on how toll hike money will be spent | NJ.com

Critics blast Port Authority for changing position on how toll hike money will be spent | NJ.com: "In press releases and public comments leading up to the toll hike approval in August, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the money was needed to pay for a list of projects that included redevelopment of the World Trade Center site. The cost was of all the projects was eventually pegged at $25.1 billion."

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Coast Guard seeks comments for bridge modification | Coast Guard News

Coast Guard seeks comments for bridge modification | Coast Guard News: "Members of the Coast Guard’s bridges office in New York are reviewing the project to increase the navigational clearance beneath the bridge."

'via Blog this'

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Lawsuit against Port Authority fare hike to see court hearing December 1 | NJ.com

Lawsuit against Port Authority fare hike to see court hearing December 1 | NJ.com: "A lawsuit filed against the Port Authority over recent fare hikes will be presented in U.S. District Court in New York on December 1 to see if the case will reach a full trial."

'via Blog this'

Bayonne Bridge's Birthday Passes Largely Unnoticed - NY1.com

Bayonne Bridge's Birthday Passes Largely Unnoticed - NY1.com: "The Bayonne Bridge turned 80 years old this month, but that milestone came and went without much fanfare. That's in contrast to the celebration that marked the 80th anniversary of the George Washington Bridge just three weeks earlier, when one of the largest flags in the world was displayed and the towers were illuminated at night."

'via Blog this'

Friday, November 25, 2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

How Many People Will Travel Across the George Washington Bridge Today? - NYTimes.com

How Many People Will Travel Across the George Washington Bridge Today? - NYTimes.com: "“Last year on the day before Thanksgiving, there were approximately 156,800 eastbound vehicles."

'via Blog this'

Coast Guard seeks public opinion of Bayonne Bridge | NJ.com

Coast Guard seeks public opinion of Bayonne Bridge | NJ.com: "The Coast Guard wants to know what the public thinks about plans to raise the Bayonne Bridge."

'via Blog this'

Burr on Staten Island | David O. Stewart

Burr on Staten Island | David O. Stewart: "Aaron Burr died in September 1836 in a hotel in Port Richmond, on the island’s north shore."

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Sen. Charles Schumer goes to bat in Staten Island's fight for lower tolls at Port Authority bridges | SILive.com

Sen. Charles Schumer goes to bat in Staten Island's fight for lower tolls at Port Authority bridges | SILive.com: "The push for a toll break for Staten Island businesses and residents gained some muscle with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer making the appeal directly to the head of the Port Authority. "

'via Blog this'

Monday, November 21, 2011

Golf Course & Bridge


Shooter’s Island: Then and Now « tugster: a waterblog

Shooter’s Island: Then and Now « tugster: a waterblog: "Maersk Kentucky turns at least 90 degrees to starboard after passing under the Bayonne Bridge. Beyond Shooters Island lies the city of Elizabeth, NJ. More close-ups of Maersk Kentucky–eleven years running and a fifth of a mile long– tomorrow, but for now, she draws more than 30 feet max . . . and notice the mud trail she stirs up."

'via Blog this'

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Staten Island Business Owners, Residents Protest Port Authority Toll Fees « CBS New York

Staten Island Business Owners, Residents Protest Port Authority Toll Fees « CBS New York: "Elected officials joined residents and business owners near the base of the Bayonne Bridge Saturday morning to protest what they call the sky-high and ever increasing toll fees."

'via Blog this'

Staten Islanders Rally Against Steep Tolls, Call For Fixed Rate - NY1.com

Staten Islanders Rally Against Steep Tolls, Call For Fixed Rate - NY1.com: "Staten Islanders rallied in Port Richmond this morning against what they call unfair tolls."

'via Blog this'

Random Pics

All fotos by Will Van Dorp, who’s looking for fotos of Eldia, as she was towed from Cape Cod into the Kills and ultimately Witte’s yard in the mid-1980s.  Eldiablew ashore at Orleans in a spring storm 1984 (Click here to see how photogenic she was thought to be on the beach.) and ultimately was towed toRossville.   Someone out there MUST have fotos of her as “dead ship” coming into sixth boro waters.

Kimberly Turecamo 1980  (ex-Rebecca P.) and Serifos 1995   named for anAegean Sea island.


Whatzit 12 « tugster: a waterblog

Whatzit 12 « tugster: a waterblog: "It’s Shooter’s Island as I could never have imagined it!!"

'via Blog this'

Building Bridges |

Friday, November 18, 2011

Staten Island's James Molinaro calls out Gov. Christie on lack of toll relief | State | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News.

Staten Island's James Molinaro calls out Gov. Christie on lack of toll relief | State | NewJerseyNewsroom.com -- Your State. Your News.: "According to SILive.com, James Molinaro, the borough president, told the Staten Island Advance on Nov. 15 that the Garden State and its governor are the reasons that Molinaro’s constituents haven’t received a special deal on Port Authority bridge tolls. Staten Island is connected to New Jersey by the Goethals and Bayonne bridges and the Outerbridge Crossing."

'via Blog this'

In the shadow of Bayonne Bridge, a rally against tolls | SILive.com

In the shadow of Bayonne Bridge, a rally against tolls | SILive.com: "The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is mounting a rally tomorrow, 9 a.m., at Margarella Industrial, 2351 Richmond Terr. "

'via Blog this'

Thursday, November 17, 2011

bayonne bridge Antonyms

bayonne bridge Antonyms: "1. (noun) Bayonne Bridge
a steel arch bridge connecting New Jersey and Staten Island at Bayonne, New Jersey"

'via Blog this'

Bayonne Bridge, linking Bayonne and Staten Island, celebrated 80th anniversary of opening; raising the span's roadbed will keep it useful | NJ.com

Bayonne Bridge, linking Bayonne and Staten Island, celebrated 80th anniversary of opening; raising the span's roadbed will keep it useful | NJ.com: "The bridge officially opened to traffic on Nov. 15, 1931 and former Bayonne Mayor Lucius Donohoe, driving a Rolls Royce, was first to cross over."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority Submits Preliminary Bridge Modification Application to US Coast Guard


A preliminary application has been received by the Commander, First Coast Guard District from
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) for a U. S. Coast Guard Bridge
Permit for modification to the Bayonne Bridge across Kill Van Kull between Staten Island, NY
and Bayonne, NJ. PANYNJ proposes to increase the navigational clearance beneath the bridge
by raising the vehicular roadway within the existing tied arch truss structure.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Bayonne Bridge Turns 80 - NY1.com

Bayonne Bridge Turns 80 - NY1.com: "NY1 VIDEO: The Bayonne Bridge is reaching a milestone today, as the Port Authority is celebrating the span’s 80th birthday." 'via Blog this'

Staten Island rally against Port Authority tolls re-scheduled for Saturday | SILive.com

Staten Island rally against Port Authority tolls re-scheduled for Saturday | SILive.com: "The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce has changed the date of its rally against toll hikes to Saturday at 9 a.m. It was originally scheduled for Wednesday."

'via Blog this'

Port Authority celebrates 80th birthday of the Bayonne Bridge

New York State News on the Net!: " Arching gracefully over the industrial Kill Van Kull waterway, the steel triangular-truss Bayonne Bridge celebrates its 80th birthday today, an important milestone for the crossing that serves as the global shipping gateway for the region’s port facilities, which generate more than 270,000 jobs and billions in wages and economic activity."

'via Blog this'

November 15th In NYC History - NY1.com

November 15th In NYC History - NY1.com: "In 1931...The Bayonne Bridge opens, linking Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey."

'via Blog this'

Bayonne Bridge - United States | Travel Posters

Bayonne Bridge - United States | Travel Posters: "Bayonne Bridge is available from AllPosters.com"

'via Blog this'

Monday, November 14, 2011

Toll of just two bucks and change urged for Staten Island's Port Authority spans | SILive.com

Toll of just two bucks and change urged for Staten Island's Port Authority spans | SILive.com: "That's right: Just $2.27 to cross the Outerbridge Crossing and the Goethals and Bayonne Bridges instead of the new $12 fee. Tolls would also come down for truckers, who now pay $78 per trip to cross."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Car careens into the Kill Van Kull in Bayonne; Deli employee working across the street rushes to victim's aid | NJ.com

Car careens into the Kill Van Kull in Bayonne; Deli employee working across the street rushes to victim's aid | NJ.com: "After witnessing a silver Nissan Altima careen into the Kill Van Kull Thursday afternoon, one Bayonne clerk said he rushed across the street to assist the driver whose car had broken through the fence and landed on the shoreline near the Bayonne Bridge."

'via Blog this'

10 best bridge walks around the world | Gadling.com

10 best bridge walks around the world | Gadling.com: "Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia: When it comes to the Sydney Harbour Bridge you have a few options. You can either walk across the arch-shaped structure from one end to the other, taking in views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House, or you can climb to the top. In 2010, climbing the bridge was actually rated one of the World's Top Ten Experiences by Lonely Planet. During the climb, which takes you up more than 300 feet, you will be given protective clothing to aid against the weather and will be secured by a wire lifeline. Beginning at the eastern side of the bridge, climbers will ascend to the summit and go down on the western end."

'via Blog this'

300 Guests Attend PlanSmart NJ’s 43rd Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony | njtoday.net – Everything New Jersey

300 Guests Attend PlanSmart NJ’s 43rd Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony | njtoday.net – Everything New Jersey: "Economic Development Achievement Award: David Samson, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)for the decision to raise the Bayonne Bridge. "

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Economic Development Achievement Award: « PlanSmart NJ

Economic Development Achievement Award: « PlanSmart NJ: "David Samson,Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for the decision to raise the Bayonne Bridge"

'via Blog this'

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Elizabeth trail will connect Bridge Street, Arthur Kill Watershed | NJ.com

Elizabeth trail will connect Bridge Street, Arthur Kill Watershed | NJ.com: "With the background of Bayonne Bridge, bike marshals pre-ride along the promenade of Arthur Kill in preparation for the 15-mile 7th Annual Tour de Elizabeth in 2010."

'via Blog this'

Photos & Pictures | Photos from the Staten Island Advance - SILive.com

Noble auction to be held Nov. 19 | SILive.com

Noble auction to be held Nov. 19 | SILive.com: "New to the auction this year: Bascove, a writer and well-established painter who has donated a giclee print ( “Bayonne Bridge II” and a copy of her book “Bridges”; June Julian, “Storm Surge,” a hand-colored lithograph; William Kushmick, “Field with Chapel and Music Hall in the Distance, 1979,” and “Road: Leading to the Graveyard,” a silver gelatin print; and John Taylor Arms’ (1887-1953) “Wilby Church, Northamptonshire,” an etching. "

'via Blog this'

Friday, November 4, 2011

2011 November « tugster: a waterblog

2011 November « tugster: a waterblog: "So concludes this series . . . with total time elapsed from Qatar nosing around Bergen Point until Suez Canal Bridge‘s stern clearing the west side of the Bayonne Bridge"

'via Blog this'

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Bayonne Bridge | SILive.com

Bayonne Bridge | SILive.com: "An inbound container ship passes under the Port Authority-owned Bayonne Bridge as it transits the Kill van Kull. The waterway, which carries more tonnage than the Panama Canal, is literally a river of commerce for the greater New York City area. The bridge may need to be replaced or modified to allow passage by the ever-larger ships that visit the ports west of the span.(Staten Island Advance)"

'via Blog this'

The Lure of the Tug - WSJ.com

The Lure of the Tug - WSJ.com: ""We're going to have to help her around the turn," Captain O'Toole explained, referring to the point of land that led under the Bayonne Bridge. "We'll push the stern around. Most ships won't make it on their own. It's greater than a 90-degree turn.""

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Streetsblog New York City » New York Can’t Afford to Build a Tappan Zee Bridge With No Transit

Streetsblog New York City » New York Can’t Afford to Build a Tappan Zee Bridge With No Transit: "According to the State of New York, spending $5.2 billion on a new Tappan Zee Bridge is affordable, but spending another $1 billion for a 30-mile bus rapid transit corridor is a bridge too far."

'via Blog this'

A few more nice pics....

Turning 80b « tugster: a waterblog:

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Several Nice Pics of The Bridge

Turning 80a « tugster: a waterblog:

'via Blog this'

Statement of Christopher Koch President and CEO World Shipping Council


Statement of Christopher Koch President and CEO World Shipping Council

Committee on House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

October 26, 2011

Mr. Chairman, the World Shipping Council1 appreciates the Subcommittee's examination of whether the nation's maritime transportation infrastructure is adequate to meet the future needs of the nation's commerce. It is a multi-faceted issue due to the fact that the ownership, the financing, and the investment needs of the various pieces of this critical network will vary according to what part of the network one is examining.

First, each sector of the transportation infrastructure and its related industries has different needs and characteristics, affecting how improvement strategies are developed and implemented. Second, within these sectors, the various market participants may not act in the same way. For example, some ocean carriers may be more committed to large vessels than others; some ports may have more competitive geographic locations or harbor depths or intermodal rail connections than others. Third, some transportation infrastructure is public and requires public solutions, but some is privately owned and operated. Fourth, state and local governments are key decision-makers, especially for much of the needed land-side infrastructure improvements and for the permission to improve the transportation infrastructure. Finding adequate capital to build or improve transportation infrastructure is increasingly only part of the issue. Getting permission from the appropriate authorities to build the improvements is just as much a part of our challenge, and in some cases, the greater part.

There is neither a single issue nor solution to how to prepare for future maritime transportation infrastructure needs. There will be many issues and many solutions to the topics likely to be touched on at this hearing. That may not be tidy, but it is reality. Understanding who is responsible for what improvements is a necessary foundation.

II. The Maritime Transportation System's Infrastructure Components

The following chart provides an overview of different sectors of the nation's maritime transportation system, their ownership, their capacity to handle growth, and their need for additional government assistance:

This chart illustrates that where the private sector owns the nation's critical transportation infrastructure, there generally is not an existing capacity problem or a shortage of necessary investment capita!, despite the enormous capital requirements. The capacity problems tend to arise more often with those portions of the critical infrastructure that are owned by the government, such as locks and dams, harbor channels, and efficient connections for freight to the national highway system.

111. Maritime Infrastructure Planning for the Future A. Overview Forecasting Trade Growth and Demand for Infrastructure Expansion

Five years ago, it was common to see trade projections assuming containerized trade growth in the U.S. of 8-12% per year for 20 consecutive years, with conclusions that we could be "maxing out" our port capacity by about now. Such projections did not forecast the 2008/2009 recession, the questions today about the Euro and European sovereign debt, and other relevant events. Such projections cannot accurately predict future important questions either, such as real estate bubbles in China, or what kind of protectionist policies might be implemented and what kind of damage to trade they would cause.

Both the maritime industry and policy makers must struggle with such uncertainties as they decide how much capital to invest in what kind of assets at what time. The current sluggish economy is certainly taking a financial toll on the liner shipping industry as capacity exceeds market demand, and ocean carriers' financial losses this year are forecast to be at least in the hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more.

This kind of variability makes it difficult for one to predict to this Subcommittee exactly what kind of ships will be calling with what volume levels at what ports at any particular time in the future. But, what we can consider from a macro planning perspective is that over the longer term, as economic growth occurs, so will the need for expanded maritime infrastructure capacity to handle that growth efficiently. In that regard, no one wants to see the nation's critical maritime infrastructure be at a level that is insufficient to efficiently handle trade volumes or to keep American businesses as competitive as possible in world markets. We must also be prepared for the possible effects of the Panama Canal Authority's expanded capacity when the new locks open in 2014.2

Handling Future Trade Volumes and Forecasting Ship Size

An initial observation is that there is more to planning future seaport infrastructure and capacity than just channel depth. U.S. ports will need to handle the growth of cargo volumes, whether they arrive on 4,000 TEU ships or 10,000 TEU ships. Whether 20,000 containers arrive on two ships or five ships, the port still needs to handle 20,000 containers, as do the rail and highway connections to the port.

This Committee has been working for quite awhile on legislation to reauthorize a long-term surface transportation bill. As noted in the chart above, Congress and the business community have recognized that the national highway system needs to include efficient links to intermodal freight facilities, whether they are in Chicago, the Ohio Valley, or Los Angeles. The nation's economic health and competitiveness depend upon it We hope that this point will be addressed in the Committee's continued efforts on this legislation, and that any future surface transportation funding program will address the importance of connecting the nation's highway system efficiently with intermodal freight facilities, including seaports.

U.S. ports today vary in their capacity and in their depth. The West Coast ports tend to be deeper draft harbors, and tend to need less maintenance dredging. The principal U.S. West Coast (USWC) container ports (LA/Long Beach/Oakland/Tacoma/Seattle) can all handle vessels with 50 foot draft; however, depth is not the only factor that limits the number and type of vessel calls.

Puget Sound ports have naturally deep harbors and good intermodal connections, but far less population and cargo demand than Southern California; thus, fewer services call in the Pacific Northwest than in Southern California.

Bigger containerships require container cranes with wider reach. The new locks in the Canal will be able to handle ships with a width of 19 rows of containers. The biggest container ships in the world are now 22 container rows wide, with larger vessels on order at 23 rows wide. Accordingly, marine terminal operators have been installing larger cranes as they determine whether larger ships will be calling at their facilities.

Port productivity is also very relevant to ship deployment decisions. U.S. port facility productivity is much less than the productivity at major ports in other parts of the world. Today, a 10,000 TEU ship takes four days to unload at one port on the West Coast. An 18,000 TEU ship would take up to a week, thus limiting an operator's interest in deploying such vessels in the U.S. even if it had vessels of this size.3

Harbor channel depth is obviously an important factor in assessing the issue of the seaport's capacity to handle future cargo growth. All the major USWC container ports (LA, Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle) currently have 50 foot depth. At the largest U.S. Gulf of Mexico and East Coast (USEC) ports, The Port of New York/New Jersey is dredged to 50 feet, but its container terminals on Newark Bay have bridge clearance limitations for ships passing under the Bayonne Bridge. The Global Terminal on the Hudson River can currently accommodate post-Panamax ships and is not affected by the bridge clearance limitation.

The Port of Baltimore is expected to complete its current efforts to have a depth of 50 feet in 2012, and the National Gateway rail project, planned for completion in 2015, will provide improved rail connections and clearances from the port to mid-western markets. Norfolk has a depth of 50 feet, and the completed Heartland Corridor rail project is providing much improved, connecting rail service into mid-western markets.

Charleston has a depth of 45 feet and is planning to deepen further. Savannah has a depth of 42 feet and seeking funding to get to 48 feet. Jacksonville has a depth of 38-40 feet with unfunded plans to dredge to 50 feet. Miami is in the process of dredging to get to 50 feet. Mobile has a depth of 40-45 feet. The Houston Ship Channel is currently being deepened to 45 feet from 40 feet.

The Panama Canal's New Locks

As noted earlier, the current size of the Panama Canal has constrained the maximum size of ships that can transit, with the maximum draft being 39.5 feet and the maximum size container ships being roughly 4,500 TEU. The new Canal locks, scheduled to begin operation in 2014, will increase the maximum container ship size that can transit to roughly 12,000 TEU and a 50 foot draft. There is a plethora of studies, opinions and prognostications about what the effects of the new locks will be on trade flows, ship sizes, volumes, transshipment port development, and which U.S. ports will benefit by the new locks. The Panama Canal Authority has entered into cooperative agreements with virtually every major U.S. port to discuss and consider these matters. My testimony today will not attempt to provide any definitive predictions to these questions, but the following comments may be useful to the Subcommittee as it examines this subject.

First, in recent years, the Canal has frequently operated at or close to maximum capacity in terms of the number of ships that can be safely scheduled for transit. By undertaking the current Canal improvement projects, the Canal will be able to handle significantly more cargo because the ships can be larger, because operations will be more efficient, and because of the addition of a third set of locks. The Canal Authority estimates that its current expansion projects will double the Canal's capacity.

Second, since 2001, there has been a moderate one percent shift of all international container cargo from the USWC to the USEC, with much of that adjustment taking place in 2003 to 2004 in reaction to labor disputes that led to the closure of West Coast ports in 2002. It is possible that more of a shift might have occurred as volume continued to grow until it peaked in 2007; however, the current Panama Canal is limited in the number of ships it can accommodate. As trade grows, USWC, USEC and Gulf ports all expect volumes to increase. It is not clear, however, the extent to which the new Canal locks will cause the Gulf and USEC ports to receive a substantially greater share of traffic between the U.S. and Asia, which is the dominant trade route by far that will be affected by the Canal expansion, in comparison to USWC ports. Many market factors can influence this, from port productivity, to labor conditions, to the relative attractiveness of the business climate in California versus the Gulf and Southeast. Intermodal services that utilize USWC ports for cargo going to or leaving from many Midwest or eastern destinations generally can provide faster service, using rail connections, than all water service between Asia and the USEC. Thus, if "time to market" is a shipper's predominant concern, the West Coast ports are likely to continue to have a competitive advantage for many interior U.S. destinations. On the other hand, if cost is a shipper's predominant concern, and their facilities are located east of the Rockies, the Gulf and East Coast gateways may receive a boost from the shipper's lower inland cost that results from shorter distance from the port to the shipper's facility or benefit from the new major rail gateways developing from East Coast ports. All of these comparisons and choices will be very case and cost specific.

Third, future toll increases by the Panama Canal Authority are uncertain, and thus their effect on cargo volumes using all water service via the Panama Canal is uncertain. One would expect that the Panama Canal would not raise tolls so much as to discourage use of the Canal, but that remains to be seen.

Fourth, the Suez Canal is able to accommodate all container ship sizes, including the most recently ordered 18,000 TEU ships. There are currently vessel services between Asia and the USEC via the Suez Canal, and these services, notwithstanding their longer sailing time, can be competitive, depending on the geographic origin of the goods, the level of Suez Canal tolls, and the fact that there are many intermediate port calls and markets in South Asia, the Mideast and the Mediterranean on such services.

Fifth, not all carriers are likely to make the same ship size deployment changes at the same time in response to the new locks. Carriers' vessel inventories are built for specific trades and for the long-term, and deployments will take time to adjust.

Sixth, large ships do tend to be more efficient, so carriers can bring those greater efficiencies to shippers. In the end, however, carriers do not decide the routing of cargo; shippers do, based on a variety of factors including cost, their particular markets, a region's warehousing and distribution system capabilities and efficiencies, rail and highway connections, and their service time requirements. That is why ports' marketing efforts seek to attract major importers and exporters to locate their consolidation or distribution centers nearby, because such commitments by cargo owners tend to ensure predictable cargo flows through that port.

Seventh, many forecasters conclude that ships using the Panama Canal for services between the USEC and Gulf and Asia will increase in size when the new locks open. Based on the size of ships currently serving the Asia trade to the USWC and accounting for some increase in cargo demand, it seems probable that 6-8,000 TEU ships will become common for several years after the Canal is expanded. That does not mean that larger ships might not be used if market conditions warrant, nor does it mean that smaller vessels will no longer serve that trade. If ships' sizes increase, this could mean that there will be fewer vessel services using larger ships. This can present challenges to carriers' decision-making as they will need to balance shippers' demands for frequency of service versus the fact that bigger ships are only more efficient if their greater capacity is utilized.

Finally, there is a question of the effect of the new Canal's wider locks on the possible development of larger transshipment hub ports in the Caribbean or Central America to bandte very large ships arriving from Asia, which would then relay cargo onto smaller vessels for carriage to U.S. ports and to ports in Latin America and elsewhere. This is a possible scenario that is still being analyzed by trade experts. Transshipment can offer the potential of greater overall network efficiencies; however, it has the down side of causing slower total transit time for the cargo, and requires the added cost of double handling of the container. Different shippers and carriers may view these trade- offs differently. Thus, for example, a string of 1012,000 TEU ships could use a transshipment hub to route some of the cargo via smaller vessels to the U.S., some to Latin America, and some to Europe, etc. The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Panama are often discussed in this context of possible major transshipment port development using larger ships facilitated by the Canal expansion. In short, the issue of developing new transshipment ports as a result of the new Canal locks is being discussed, but carrier and shipper reactions are still being formed. This is simply one more reason to note that just because the new Canal locks will have a maximum capacity to be able to handle 12,000 TEU ships, it does not necessarily mean ships of that size will call at USEC or Gulf ports.

Sun Rises in Sunset Park | Journal of Commerce

Sun Rises in Sunset Park | Journal of Commerce: "Brooklyn may have a bridge, but unlike four major terminals on the west side of New York harbor, ships don't have to pass under it to get there. With a $1 billion project to raise the Bayonne Bridge still in the design phase and at least five years from completion, Brooklyn is re-emerging as a possible alternative at the Port of New York and New Jersey for the massive ships that will transit the Panama Canal's new, expanded locks." [Subscription Required]

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Friday, October 28, 2011

George Washington Bridge 80th Anniversary - The Port Authority of NY & NJ

George Washington Bridge 80th Anniversary - The Port Authority of NY & NJ: "The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey celebrates the 80th anniversary of the October 25, 1931 opening of the George Washington Bridge.

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Exit 13A: A trip along the 'most dangerous two miles in America' | NJ.com

Exit 13A: A trip along the 'most dangerous two miles in America' | NJ.com: "Standing on the roof of the Port Authority administration building at Newark Liberty International Airport, you get a sense of just how incredibly busy North Jersey is."

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Streetsblog New York City » Tappan Zee Docs Rescued From Memory Hole Say New Bridge Needs Transit

Streetsblog New York City » Tappan Zee Docs Rescued From Memory Hole Say New Bridge Needs Transit: "After a public outcry, New York State has restored the extensive library of documents generated by nine years of study and public outreach surrounding the construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge."

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Staten Island electeds oppose expanding No. 7 subway to New Jersey | SILive.com

Staten Island electeds oppose expanding No. 7 subway to New Jersey | SILive.com: "Staten Island elected officials are banding together in expressing frustration with New York and New Jersey officials plan to consider extending the route of the No. 7 subway line into New Jersey."

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

N.Y., N.J. Port Sets $400M - The Bond Buyer Article

N.Y., N.J. Port Sets $400M - The Bond Buyer Article: "The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey plans a $400 million sale of new money and refunding bonds by competitive bid on Wednesday."

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Bayonne Bridge - Prof. Boerner's Explorations

Bayonne Bridge - Prof. Boerner's Explorations: "Our country has had its share of magnificent bridges over the years. In the New York City area there are the Brooklyn Bridge, the Verrazona-Narrows Bridge, and the George Washington Bridge. Each has occupied a special place in the heart of the New Yorkers."

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(1) Celebration of the Bayonne Bridge and the Bayonne Bridgemen

Celebration of the Bayonne Bridge and the Bayonne Bridgemen: "The Bayonne Historical Society will present a special program to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the opening of the Bayonne Bridge on the afternoon of Sunday, November 13th, at St. Andrew’s School."

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The Bayonne Bridge

The Bayonne Bridge: "After taking a few options into consideration, such as demolishing the bridge and building a taller one, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as it is currently called, has decided to build a roadway above the current one. "

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The Port of New York and New Jersey: A Critical Hub of Global Commerce | gCaptain - Maritime & Offshore

The Port of New York and New Jersey: A Critical Hub of Global Commerce | gCaptain - Maritime & Offshore: "Another major obstacle for the Port of New York/New Jersey is the limited air draft of the Bayonne Bridge. Constructed in 1931, the engineers and architects who designed the bridge never could have imagined the size of cargo ships that would be destined for the Port. "

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Monday, October 24, 2011

Streetsblog New York City » Who Killed Transit on the New Tappan Zee? Feds and State DOT Won’t Say.

Streetsblog New York City » Who Killed Transit on the New Tappan Zee? Feds and State DOT Won’t Say.: "Call it the mystery of the missing transit. One of the state’s biggest transit projects, in the works for nearly a decade, was canceled overnight and no one will explain why, or even claim responsibility for the decision."

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Tug Passing Under Bridge


Staten Island's MTA board member Allen Cappelli calls for toll equity | SILive.com

Staten Island's MTA board member Allen Cappelli calls for toll equity | SILive.com: ""It's patently an unfair system," says Allen Cappelli, the MTA's lone Island board member."

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Sunday, October 23, 2011

Staten Island, from a different perspective | SILive.com

Staten Island, from a different perspective | SILive.com: "The Staten Island Circumnavigation "Hidden Harbor Tour" took off from the Water Taxi berth at Battery Park City and headed here. Any resentment about having to travel to Manhattan to take a tour of Staten Island dissipated under a glorious sun. And while the wind turned the waters of New York Harbor choppy, that only made it more exhilarating"

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Staten Island Man Urging Boycott Of PA Sees That Protesting Ain't Easy: Gothamist

Staten Island Man Urging Boycott Of PA Sees That Protesting Ain't Easy: Gothamist: "Valentin, a retired gas worker and "self-proclaimed borough loudmouth" wants a flat E-ZPass rate of around $5-6 for crossing into New Jersey and a guarantee that that they wouldn't rise in the future. To spread his message, he's selling $5 placards to recoup the $1,000 he spent making them. "I'm not going to stop until I see signs everywhere…We're an Island; we're trapped, it's not fair, they can't punish us for it.""

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Current Plan


Transportation For America » New Report Ranks Deficient Bridges by Metro Areas

Transportation For America » New Report Ranks Deficient Bridges by Metro Areas: "A new look at structurally deficient bridges in metropolitan areas finds that just a quarter of U.S. bridges, located in our largest metropolitan areas, carry 75 percent of all traffic crossing a deficient bridge each day."

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Outgoing Port Authority executive director receives mixed reviews after 3-year tenure | NJ.com

Outgoing Port Authority executive director receives mixed reviews after 3-year tenure | NJ.com: "With a new executive director named Wednesday, the departing head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey leaves with a record of port and airport improvements, three years of flat budgets yet criticism from both state capitals after a costly turnaround of the once-floundering World Trade Center project."

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New Port Authority director named by N.Y. Gov. Cuomo | NJ.com

New Port Authority director named by N.Y. Gov. Cuomo | NJ.com: " New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has named an economic development official from his administration to head the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, officials announced today."

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Bayonne Bridge to get raised by 2016 - NorthJersey.com

Bayonne Bridge to get raised by 2016 - NorthJersey.com: "The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey plans to raise the Bayonne Bridge by 2016, two years after an expanded Panama Canal will allow larger vessels to pass through for shipments to ports along the eastern United States."

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New T.Z. Bridge plan programmed to fail | The Journal News | LoHud.com | LoHud.com

New T.Z. Bridge plan programmed to fail | The Journal News | LoHud.com | LoHud.com: "The future of the Tappan Zee Bridge was doomed from the start when Gov. Thomas E. Dewey decided 60 years ago to locate the bridge 50 feet north of the jurisdiction of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey so that New York could build it."

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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

GlobeSt.com - Port-Generated Jobs Rise by 4% Over 2008 - Daily News Article

GlobeSt.com - Port-Generated Jobs Rise by 4% Over 2008 - Daily News Article: "Investments to be made between 2012 and 2017 are expected to generate some 3,400 direct jobs and 6,900 total jobs annually, assuming that the Bayonne Bridge construction is completed by 2017, the study says. “"

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Could The Tappan Zee Bridge Be The Best Elevated Park Ever?: Gothamist

Could The Tappan Zee Bridge Be The Best Elevated Park Ever?: Gothamist: "
Turning old infrastructure into modern parks is so hot right now! Inspired by the High Line, not only do we have that trippy LES Low Line to contemplate but now at least one clever Westchester County official is talking about turning the Tappan Zee bridge into a giant park once its replacement (just fast tracked by the Obama administration) is built."

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AAA: Drivers willing to pay for better highways | Daily Record | dailyrecord.com

AAA: Drivers willing to pay for better highways | Daily Record | dailyrecord.com: "As part of our continuing effort to advocate for infrastructure investment, the AAA Clubs of New Jersey surveyed 800 motorists about transportation funding issues. Funding of vital repairs to our infrastructure is a problem at all levels of government from the pothole in your town to the raising of the Bayonne Bridge to the recent collapse of Route 287."

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Monday, October 17, 2011

Study: Investments in ports region will generate 7,000 new jobs annually - NJBIZ

Study: Investments in ports region will generate 7,000 new jobs annually - NJBIZ: "For the region’s port and maritime industry, the projected growth would continue the positive impact created during the height of the recession, according to two trade groups that commissioned the study. The projections assume a project to raise the Bayonne Bridge by 64 feet is completed by 2017."

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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bayonne Bridge by *ChrisCoffee on deviantART

Dredging Today – USA: Kill van Kull Dredging Project to Bring Great Benefits

Dredging Today – USA: Kill van Kull Dredging Project to Bring Great Benefits: "
Staten Island’s shipping ports have moved one step closer in being able to accept the next generation of super container ships with the completion of dredging work in the Kill van Kull."

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Clearing the way for super ships | SILive.com

Clearing the way for super ships | SILive.com: "Staten Island's shipping ports have moved one step closer in being able to accept the next generation of super container ships with the completion of dredging work in the Kill van Kull."

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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Driver arrested for using 'James Bond' trick to skip tolls

Driver arrested for using 'James Bond' trick to skip tolls: "The driver was described by the New York Post for "pulling a trick worthy of James Bond". Reportedly the Virginia truck driver pulled a cord that flipped his vehicle's license plate to not be visible to E-Z pass toll cameras at the GWB toll plaza. This creative attempt to dodge the toll was allegedly done to avoid paying the $65 charge that is required to cross the bridge."

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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Cost of new Tappan Zee Bridge is trimmed to $5.2B | NJ.com

Cost of new Tappan Zee Bridge is trimmed to $5.2B | NJ.com: "President Barack Obama chose the project Monday for quick federal approval of environmental and other permits, and the Federal Highway Administration said those could be obtained within a year. Construction, creating thousands of jobs, could begin soon afterward, it said."

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Streetsblog New York City » Will Cuomo Scrap Transit on the Tappan Zee and Just Widen the Highway?

Streetsblog New York City » Will Cuomo Scrap Transit on the Tappan Zee and Just Widen the Highway?: "All the alternatives currently being studied for the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement include both commuter rail and bus rapid transit. Advocates are concerned that the state may try to delay construction of the transit components, however. Image: Tappan Zee environmental review website"

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Seriously, where would you rather end up, Bayonne, Staten Island or Sydney? | NJ.com

Seriously, where would you rather end up, Bayonne, Staten Island or Sydney? | NJ.com: "The toll on the Sydney Harbor Bridge is just $4."

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

5 Ways to Make Room for the World's Biggest Boats - Popular Mechanics

5 Ways to Make Room for the World's Biggest Boats - Popular Mechanics: "Bayonne, N.J. The Bayonne Bridge at the mouth of Newark Bay has a clearance of just 151 feet--even current ships have a hard time fitting beneath it. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently approved a $1 billion plan to raise the bridge to 215 feet. Construction is expected to begin within two years and to be completed by 2016. Officials say the bridge will remain open to traffic during construction. "

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For Staten Islanders, a guide to taming soaring bridge tolls | SILive.com

For Staten Islanders, a guide to taming soaring bridge tolls | SILive.com: "Here's a guide to driving back onto the Island in the cheapest ways possible."

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Friday, October 7, 2011

Delaying bus garage expansion is senseless - NorthJersey.com

Delaying bus garage expansion is senseless - NorthJersey.com: "If you're just getting over the loss of the cross-Hudson rail tunnel that Governor Christie killed this year, here's another lost mass transit project that's nearly as worthy of outrage: the $800 million expansion of the Port Authority Bus Terminal garage."

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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Senator Charles E. Schumer

Senator Charles E. Schumer: "SCHUMER CALLS ON PORT AUTHORITY TO EXTEND RESIDENTIAL TOLL DISCOUNTS TO ALL PA STATEN ISLAND BRIDGES AS TOLL INCREASE TAKES EFFECT THIS WEEKEND"

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AAA lawsuit rests on toll uses | recordonline.com

AAA lawsuit rests on toll uses | recordonline.com: "AAA New York and AAA North Jersey will lean heavily on a lawsuit that they lost against the Port Authority in 1989 to win the one they filed last week in U.S. District Court."

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Deepening Bayonne's Kill van Kull to 50 feet is a mission accomplished; part of larger plan to support shipping industry's continued access to New Jersey's ports | NJ.com

Deepening Bayonne's Kill van Kull to 50 feet is a mission accomplished; part of larger plan to support shipping industry's continued access to New Jersey's ports | NJ.com: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a three-year contract to dredge Bayonne’s Kill van Kull to a depth of 50 feet."

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Property owners back raising Bayonne Bridge - NorthJersey.com

Property owners back raising Bayonne Bridge - NorthJersey.com: "An interest group for New Jersey property owners would like to remind everyone it still supports raising the Bayonne Bridge, despite recent comments from one of its top officials."

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Monday, October 3, 2011

Port Authority toll hikes will not fund new bus parking in NYC, causign delays for New Jersey commuters - NorthJersey.com

Port Authority toll hikes will not fund new bus parking in NYC, causign delays for New Jersey commuters - NorthJersey.com: "Higher tolls on the Port Authority's Hudson River crossings will do little to fix long-standing problems at the agency's midtown Manhattan bus terminal, an outdated and cramped way station used daily by tens of thousands of North Jersey commuters."

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Sunday, October 2, 2011

Cuomo Said to Have a Leading Candidate to Run the Port Authority - NYTimes.com

Cuomo Said to Have a Leading Candidate to Run the Port Authority - NYTimes.com: "Patrick J. Foye, a longtime figure in the public life of the New York City region, is a leading candidate to become executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, according to a person familiar with the selection process."

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Commuters face toll hikes in NY and NJ - The Stute - Stevens Institute of Technology

Commuters face toll hikes in NY and NJ - The Stute - Stevens Institute of Technology: "Co-ops and interns commuting to New York City this semester are now feeling the sting of a Port Authority toll hike that went into effect last week."

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Friday, September 30, 2011

Dave Frieder Declares Bridge-Photographing Days Done - NYTimes.com

Dave Frieder Declares Bridge-Photographing Days Done - NYTimes.com: "Ammann also had a hand in such bridges as the Bayonne Bridge, the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, the Throgs Neck Bridge and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. (Mr. Frieder still calls that last one the Triborough Bridge despite the 2008 name change.)"

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Thursday, September 29, 2011

N.J., N.Y. lawmakers want more public hearings before allowing future Port Authority toll hikes | NJ.com

N.J., N.Y. lawmakers want more public hearings before allowing future Port Authority toll hikes | NJ.com: "On Sept. 18, peak tolls rose to $9.50 for E-ZPass users and $12 for cash customers on its six bistate bridges and tunnels, from $8. Tolls are to rise to $12.50 and $15 for E-ZPass and cash users respectively, as of December 2015."

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Port Authority director reportedly stepping down | NJ.com

Port Authority director reportedly stepping down | NJ.com: "The executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will be resigning from his post next month, according to a report by the New York Times."

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