Christie’s Version of Tunnel Vision

Tunnel vision is an expression generally reserved for people who have a very narrow and short-sighted view of an issue.  But in the case of the Hudson River tunnel project, or ARC (Access to the Region’s Core), Governor Chris Christie has turned the meaning of that expression on its head. 

By killing any further work on this project, the governor has demonstrated his ability to look accurately into the future and to envision a project that would spin out of financial control before its completion – one for which the overruns would be paid for solely by New Jerseyans.

SUMMARY:  The original projected cost of $8.7 billion was to be funded as follows:

·         $3.0 billion from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

·         $3.0 billion from Uncle Sam

·         $2.7 billion from New Jersey coffers

A person doesn’t have to be a CPA to know that such projects rarely come in on time and on budget.  New Jersey was not about to become the exception. 

According to information released by Christie’s staff, the Federal Transit Administration (a division of the U.S. Transportation Department) now estimates that the project could run as high at $13.7 billion, or $5 billion over the initial tab.

Governor Christie quickly saw that without additional financial support, New Jersey taxpayers would be on the hook not only for the entire cost differential of $5 billion, but also for the $775 million cost of the new Portal Bridge, a critical element of the tunnel project, yet not included in projections.

New York’s Governor David Paterson and the city’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg both expressed sympathy with Christie’s plight, but offered no additional relief for the project.  Nor did New Jersey’s own U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg offer any help except to express outrage over Christie’s decision to can the project.

With that as a backdrop, it’s no wonder that Governor Christie made the tough but necessary decision to halt construction. 

I prefer our governor’s version of tunnel vision.

Related Thought:  Meanwhile, the administration in Washington continues to spend billions on wasteful infrastructure in Afghanistan where its leader Hamid Karzai openly expresses disdain for the U.S.