Friday, May 8, 2009

Port Authority, Shut Out of Stimulus Money

Port Authority failed to receive any portion of the US Department of Transportation's $742.5 million in stimulus grants that funded transportation programs in several other states. But that doesn't mean they are out of luck yet.

"There are other pools of money that remain, and we are eligible for some of them," Port Authority Spokesperson Jim Ritchie said.

The North Shore Connector is still short of being completely paid for, due to the project going $117.8 million above previous estimates. Ritchie said $61.9 million has been secured by other stimulus packages, but there is still a hefty remainder. If they do not receive any more money to pay for the project, Port Authority may have to resort to borrowing the money. Ritchie said that would be a less than ideal situation.

"We'd be paying off debt rather than paving the bus ways and fixing rail lines that are in need of repair today."

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