PANYNJ proposes $6 billion operating and capital budget for 2017

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has proposed a $6 billion 2017 operating and capital budget.

The 2017 PANYNJ proposed operating budget of $3.1 billion will fund ongoing operations, maintenance and security at all agency facilities and provides for the first full year of operations at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, retail complex and other World Trade Center facilities which opened in phases in 2016.

PANYNJ says the $2.9 billion proposed 2017 capital budget funds significant state-of-good-repair work at its tunnels, bridges, airports and PATH system while investing in major projects to replace aging facilities with modern, state-of-the-art infrastructure to enhance the customer experience and provide for future growth.

The capital budget includes $217 million for PATH rail projects, including the continued installation of Positive Train Control on the rail system.

A total of $139 million of the PATH budget is for critical state-of-good-repair work, including post-Superstorm Sandy recovery and resiliency efforts in the tunnels, the Signal System Replacement Program and the continuation of PATH modernization projects.

In 2017, PATH's Signal System Replacement Program is expected to achieve full implementation of Automatic Train Control using Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology on the Newark to Journal Square section, which enables this section to be compliant with federally mandated PTC requirements.

The entire PATH signal system is anticipated to be in compliance with the FRA mandate requiring full PTC by the end of 2018.

An additional $65 million of the 2017 PATH capital budget is for system enhancement, such as upgrades to PATH stations and facilities and $12 million is for security and mandatory projects. The combined impacts of PATH's aging infrastructure, new regulatory requirements and the effects of 2012's Superstorm Sandy continue to drive capital priorities. PATH has developed a comprehensive list of capital projects that need to be completed to fully restore the system and provide resiliency against future storms.

The proposed PANYNJ budget also includes $153 million for Port Department projects, including the construction of a new ship-to-rail facility at Greenville yard to enhance the movement of cargo on and off the port.

Comments on the budget are being accepted and the Board of Commissioners will take up the budget proposal at its Dec. 8 meeting.