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.""

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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."

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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."

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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"

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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."

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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."

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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"

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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."

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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."

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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

the bayonne bridge. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

the bayonne bridge. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!:

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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. "

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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:

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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.

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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."

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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."

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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)."

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Bayonne Bridge « CBS New York

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

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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."

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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."

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