Testimony of Richard T. Anderson, President, New York Building Congress, at Public Scoping Meeting Access to the R

The New York Building Congress appreciates the opportunity to testify on the draft environmental impact statement that will evaluate alternatives for increasing transit capacity across the Hudson River between Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey. This project, which is being sponsored by New Jersey Transit in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, deals with the metropolitan region’s growing demand for Trans-Hudson travel and deserves full public review and inter-governmental attention.

The Directors and members of the Building Congress, who make up New York City’s largest and most diverse coalition of design, construction and real estate organizations, are well acquainted with the long-term importance of the Access to the Region’s Core project. In fact, this project may have one of the highest economic payoffs for the region’s long-term future. We urge timely completion of the draft environmental impact statement and active leadership participation and support from elected officials and public agencies on both sides of the Hudson River.

The proposed scope of this project is well prepared and has benefited from the ARC Major Investment Study conducted over the past two years. We endorse the ARC MIS and proposed scope for the environmental impact statement, with the following comments:

1. The importance of the Access to the Region’s Core project is undeniable to
   the long-term future of the entire metropolitan region and benefits New York and New Jersey together. This project should not be seen as primarily benefiting just one side of the river or the other.
2. The overall scope should focus on accommodating additional Trans-Hudson capacity at Penn Station rather than other options. If Grand Central Terminal or other destinations are pursued, the Building Congress believes an already ambitious project could become unattainable.
3. Possible financing for the project should not be constrained by traditional revenue sources. The future beneficiaries of new Trans-Hudson capacity should be counted on to shoulder the bulk of the development costs through projected user charges.
4. Viewed over several decades, the region can support Access to the Region’s Core together with other major transit investments, if the priority projects are phased appropriately. This project should not be viewed as in direct competition with other much-needed transit investments.

The Port Authority and New Jersey Transit should be commended for launching Access to the Region’s Core and committing themselves to preparation of the environmental impact statement. This is an important initiative, which deserves the widest possible understanding and support. The Building Congress especially wishes to emphasize the long-term horizon of ARC in view of the exceptionally-long lead times necessary for major transit investments. We are confident that this project will turn out to be one of the most cost-effective 21st Century regional investments.