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The
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (
PANYNJ) is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an
interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the
bridges, tunnels,
airports, and
seaports, within the New York–New Jersey Port District. This 1,500 square mile (3,900 km²) District is defined as a circle with a 25-mile (40 km) radius centered on the
Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
The Port Authority operates the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, which handled the third largest amount of shipping of all ports in the United States, in 2004. The Port Authority also operates
Hudson River crossings, including the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, and George Washington Bridge connecting New Jersey with
Manhattan, and three crossings that connect New Jersey with
Staten Island. The Port Authority Bus Terminal and the
Port Authority Trans-Hudson rail system are also run by the Port Authority, as are
LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport. The agency has its own 1,600-member
Port Authority Police Department, which is responsible for providing safety and deterring criminal activity at Port Authority–owned-and-operated facilities.
Although the Port Authority does run a good portion of the transportation structures, some bridges, tunnels, and other transportation facilities are operated independently of the Port Authority, including the
Staten Island Ferry, which is operated by the
New York City Department of Transportation; bridges between Manhattan and the Bronx operated by the NYCDOT; and other bridges, tunnels, operated by the
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority which is controlled by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) (MTA); buses, subways, and
commuter rail operated by the
New York City Transit Authority which is controlled by the MTA; and buses, commuter rail, and light rail operated by New Jersey Transit.
History
In the early years of the 20th century, there were disputes between the states of New Jersey and New York, over rail freights and boundaries. At the time, rail lines terminated on the New Jersey side of the harbor, while ocean shipping was centered on Manhattan and Brooklyn. Freight had to be shipped across the Hudson River in barges.{{cite book ] (ICC) issuing an order that the two states work together, subordinating their own interests to the public interest. The Harbor Development Commission, a joint advisory board set-up in 1917, recommended that a bi-state authority be established to oversee efficient economic development of the port district. The Port Authority of New York was established on April 30, 1921, through an interstate compact between the states of
New Jersey and
New York. This was the first such agency in the United States, created under a provision in the Constitution of the United States permitting interstate compacts. The idea for the Port Authority was conceived during the Progressive Era, which aimed to reduce political corruption and aimed for efficiency in government. With the Port Authority at a distance from
politics, it was able to carry longer-term infrastructure projects irrespective of the election cycles and in a more efficient manner. Throughout its history, there have also been concerns about democratic
accountability, or lack thereof at the Port Authority.
Hudson River crossings
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were no
bridge or tunnel crossings between the two states. Under an independent agency, the Holland Tunnel was constructed and opened in 1924, with the planning and construction pre-dating the Port Authority. With the rise in
automobile traffic, there was demand for more Hudson River crossings. Using its ability to issue Bond (finance)s and collect revenue, the Port Authority has built and managed major infrastructure projects. Early projects included bridges across the
Arthur Kill, which separates Staten Island from New Jersey. The
Goethals Bridge, named after chief engineer of the
Panama Canal Commission General George Washington Goethals, connected
Elizabeth, New Jersey and Howland Hook, Staten Island. At the south end of Arthur Kill, the Outerbridge Crossing was built and named after the Port Authority's first chairman,
Eugenius H. Outerbridge. Construction of both bridges was completed in 1928. The Bayonne Bridge, opened in 1931, was built across the Kill van Kull, connecting
Staten Island with Bayonne, New Jersey.
Construction began in 1927 on the George Washington Bridge, linking the northern part of Manhattan with
Fort Lee, New Jersey, with Port Authority chief engineer,
Othmar Ammann, overseeing the project. The bridge was completed in October 1931, ahead of schedule and well under the estimated costs. This efficiency exhibited by the Port Authority impressed President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used this as a model in creating the
Tennessee Valley Authority and other such entities.
In 1930, the Holland Tunnel was placed under control of the Port Authority, providing significant Toll tunnel revenues to the Port Authority. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Lincoln Tunnel was built, connecting New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.
Austin J. Tobin era
Airports
In 1942, Austin J. Tobin became the Executive Director of the Port Authority. In the post-World War II period, the Port Authority expanded its operations to include
airports, and
Marine Air Terminals, with projects including Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal. Meanwhile, the city-owned La Guardia Field, was nearing capacity in 1939, and needed expensive upgrades and expansion. At the time, airports were operated as
loss leaders, and the city was having difficulties maintaining the status quo, losing money and not able to undertake needed expansions. The city was looking to hand the airports over to a
Public benefit corporation, possibly to Robert Moses' Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. After long negotiations with the City of New York, a 50-year lease, commencing on
May 31, 1947, went to the Port Authority of New York to rehabilitate, develop, and operate
La Guardia International Airport (La Guardia Field), John F. Kennedy International Airport (Idlewild Airport), and
Floyd Bennett Field. The Port Authority transformed the airports into fee-generating facilities, adding stores and restaurants.
World Trade Center
During the post World War II period, the United States thrived economically, with increasing international trade. It was in this economic environment, that the concept of establishing a Worldwide world trade center was conceived. At the time, economic growth was concentrated in Midtown Manhattan, with Lower Manhattan left out. One notable exception was the construction of One Chase Manhattan Plaza in the
Financial District, Manhattan, by David Rockefeller who led urban renewal efforts in Lower Manhattan.
In initial plans made public in 1961, the World Trade Center was slated to be built on a site along the East River. Objections to the plan came from New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner, who resented that New York would be getting this $335 million project. Meanwhile, New Jersey's Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) was facing bankruptcy. Port Authority executive director, Austin J. Tobin agreed to take over control of the H&M Railroad, in exchange for support from New Jersey for the World Trade Center project. As part of this acquisition, the Port Authority would rehabilitate the Downtown Hudson Tubes and Uptown Hudson Tubes. The Port Authority would also obtain the
Hudson Terminal, and decrepit buildings located above the terminal in Lower Manhattan. The Port Authority decided to demolish these buildings, and use this site along the
Hudson River for the World Trade Center.
Even once the agreement between the states of New Jersey, New York, and the Port Authority was finalized, the World Trade Center plan faced continued controversy. New York City mayor
Robert Wagner raised concerns about the limited extent to which the Port Authority involved the city in the negotiations and deliberations. The site was the location of
Radio Row, Manhattan electronics businesses, and the World Trade Center plans involved evicting hundreds of commercial and industrial tenants, property owners, small businesses, and approximately 100 residents, some of whom fiercely protested the forced relocation.
In 1964, Minoru Yamasaki was hired by the Port Authority as architect, and came up with the idea of twin towers. To meet the Port Authority's requirement to build 10 million square feet (930,000 m²) of office space, the towers would each be 110-stories tall. The size of the project raised ire from the owner of the
Empire State Building, which would lose its title of tallest building in the world. Other critics objected to the idea of this much "subsidized" office space going on the open market, competing with the private sector. Others questioned the cost of the project, which in 1966 had risen to $575 million. Final negotiations between The City of New York and the Port Authority centered on tax issues. A final agreement was made that the Port Authority would make annual payments in lieu of taxes, for the 40% of the World Trade Center leased to private tenants. The remaining space was to be occupied by state and Federal government of the United States government agencies. In 1962, the Port Authority had signed up the United States Customs Service as a tenant, and in 1964 they inked a deal with the
New York State to locate government offices at the World Trade Center.
In August 1968, construction on the World Trade Center's north tower started, with construction on the south tower beginning in January 1969. When the World Trade Center twin towers were completed, the total costs to the Port Authority had reached $900 million. The buildings were dedicated on April 4, 1973, with Tobin, who had resigned the year before, absent from the ceremonies.
Post-Tobin era
In 1972,
William Ronan was chosen to succeed Austin Tobin as Executive Director of the Port Authority. Also in 1972, the PR name of the agency was changed to
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (but the agency failed to secure the consent of Congress from whom it received its charter), along with structural changes implemented.
In the 1990s, the Port Authority faced controversy, with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani alleging mismanagement at the Port Authority. He criticized the Port Authority for shifting airport revenues to support Port Authority Trans-Hudson service and other projects in New Jersey. Giuliani went as far as proposing to break up the Port Authority, with New York Governor
George Pataki also suggesting a break-up.
September 11, 2001 attacks
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 attacks, and the subsequent collapse of the World Trade Center buildings had an immense impact on the Port Authority. With Port Authority's headquarters located in 1 World Trade Center, it became deprived of a base of operations and sustained a great number of casualties. An estimated 1,400 Port Authority employees worked in the World Trade Center. The Port Authority lost a total of 84 employees, including 37 Port Authority Police Officers, its Executive Director, Neil D. Levin, and police superintendent, Fred Morrone. In rescue efforts following the collapse, two Port Authority police officers,
John McLoughlin (World Trade Center attack survivor) and
Will Jimeno, were pulled out alive after spending nearly 24 hours beneath 30 feet of rubble. Their rescue was later portrayed in the Oliver Stone film,
World Trade Center (film).
Governance
The Port Authority is jointly headed by the governors of New York and
Governor of New Jersey. Each governor, with the approval of his or her state senate, appoints six members to the Board of Commissioners, who serve overlapping six-year terms without pay. Current Commissioners are Hon. Bruce Blakeman (NY), Hon. Michael Chasanoff (NY), Hon. Anthony Coscia (Chairman, NJ ), Hon. Christy Ferrer (NY), Hon. Charles Gargano (V.Chair,NY), Hon. Angelo Genova (NJ), Hon.David Mack (NY), Hon.Ray Pocino (NJ), Hon. Anthony Sartor (NJ), Hon. Henry Silverman (NY), Hon. Jack Sinagra (NJ) and Hon. David Steiner (NJ). A governor can veto actions by the commissioners from the same state. Meetings of the Board of Commissioners are public. The Board of Commissioners are typically comprised of business titans and political power brokers who maintain close relationships with their respective Governors.
Financially, the Port Authority has no power to tax and does not receive tax money from any local or state governments. Instead, it operates on the revenues it makes from its rents, tolls, fees, and facilities.
An Executive Director is appointed by the Board of Commissioners to deal with day-to-day operations and to execute the Port Authority's policies. Anthony Shorris is the current Executive Director of the Port Authority, after being nominated by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.
Former Executive Directors
- Eugenius H. Outerbridge
- Austin J. Tobin
- William Ronan
- Peter C. Goldmark
- Stephen Berger
- Stan Bresnoff
- George Marlin
- Robert E. Boyle
- Neil D. Levin
- Joseph J. Seymour
- Kenneth J. Ringler, Jr.
Facilities
and Port of South Louisiana handling more.
Seaports
.The Port Authority operates the Brooklyn Port Authority Marine Terminal in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY; the Auto Marine Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey and Jersey City, New Jersey; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on
Staten Island; and the
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal was the first in the nation to Containerization, As of 2004, Port Authority seaports handle the third largest amount of shipping of all U.S. ports, as measured in tonnage.
Airports
at
Newark Liberty International Airport.
Airports
The Port Authority operates the following
Airport:
Both Kennedy and LaGuardia airports are owned by the City of New York and leased to the Port Authority for operating purposes. Newark Liberty is owned by Newark and also leased to the Authority.
Heliports
The Authority operates the
Downtown Manhattan Heliport (
Manhattan).
Expansion
As of
January,
2007, the Port Authority is to take over operation of
Stewart International Airport in Newburgh (city), New York pending authorizing legislation.
Bridges and tunnels
Other facilities managed by the Port Authority include the Lincoln Tunnel, the
Holland Tunnel, and the George Washington Bridge, which all connect Manhattan and northern New Jersey; the
Goethals Bridge, the
Outerbridge Crossing and the
Bayonne Bridge, which connect Staten Island and New Jersey. Cash tolls for passenger vehicles crossing from New Jersey to New York City are $6; there is no toll for crossing from New York to New Jersey. Discounts are available with the
E-ZPass electronic toll collection system: during peak hours (weekdays - 6-9 a.m., 4-7 p.m.; Sat./Sun. - noon to 8 p.m.), the discounted rate is $5, and at all other times (off-peak hours), the discounted rate is $4. Annual toll receipts from these facilities typically equal the initial construction costs. The Port Authority owns all these bridges and tunnels.
Bus and rail transit
-bound train at the World Trade Center (PATH station).The Port Authority operates the
Port Authority Bus Terminal at
42nd Street (Manhattan) and the
George Washington Bridge Bus Station, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rapid transit system linking lower and midtown Manhattan with New Jersey, the AirTrain (Newark) system linking
Newark International Airport with New Jersey Transit and
Amtrak via a station on the Northeast Corridor rail line, and the
AirTrain (JFK) system linking JFK with
Howard Beach, New York (Subway) and
Jamaica, Queens (Subway and
Long Island Rail Road).
Real estate
The Port Authority also participates in joint development ventures around the region, including The Teleport communications center in Staten Island, Bathgate Industrial Park in
The Bronx, the Essex County, New Jersey Resource Recovery Facility, The Legal Center in
Newark, New Jersey, Queens West in
Long Island City, Queens, NY, and The South Waterfront at
Hoboken, New Jersey.
Current and future projects
Major projects by the Port Authority include the Freedom Tower and other construction at the World Trade Center site. Other projects include a new passenger terminal at JFK International Airport, and redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B, and rehabilitation of the Goethals Bridge. The Port Authority also has plans to buy 340 new PATH
rail cars and begin major expansion of Stewart International Airport.
World Trade Center site
As owner of the World Trade Center site, the Port Authority has worked since 2001 on plans for reconstruction of the site, along with
Silverstein Properties Inc., and the
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. In 2006, the Port Authority reached a deal with Larry Silverstein, which ceded control of the Freedom Tower to the Port Authority. The deal gave Silverstein rights to build three towers along the eastern side of the site, including 150 Greenwich Street,
175 Greenwich Street, and 200 Greenwich Street. Also part of the plans, is the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which will replace the temporary PATH station that opened in November 2003.
See also
References
External links
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Official Website
- Video of cornerstone laying ceremony for the Freedom Tower on July 4, 2004
The
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (
PANYNJ) is a bi-state
port district, established in 1921 through an
interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the
bridges,
tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the New York–New Jersey Port District. This 1,500 square mile (3,900 km²) District is defined as a circle with a 25-mile (40 km) radius centered on the
Statue of Liberty in
New York Harbor.
The Port Authority operates the
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, which handled the third largest amount of shipping of all ports in the United States, in 2004. The Port Authority also operates
Hudson River crossings, including the
Holland Tunnel,
Lincoln Tunnel, and George Washington Bridge connecting New Jersey with Manhattan, and three crossings that connect New Jersey with Staten Island. The Port Authority Bus Terminal and the
Port Authority Trans-Hudson rail system are also run by the Port Authority, as are
LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and
Newark Liberty International Airport. The agency has its own 1,600-member
Port Authority Police Department, which is responsible for providing safety and deterring criminal activity at Port Authority–owned-and-operated facilities.
Although the Port Authority does run a good portion of the transportation structures, some bridges, tunnels, and other transportation facilities are operated independently of the Port Authority, including the
Staten Island Ferry, which is operated by the
New York City Department of Transportation; bridges between Manhattan and the Bronx operated by the NYCDOT; and other bridges, tunnels, operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority which is controlled by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) (MTA);
buses, subways, and commuter rail operated by the New York City Transit Authority which is controlled by the MTA; and buses, commuter rail, and
light rail operated by
New Jersey Transit.
History
In the early years of the 20th century, there were disputes between the states of New Jersey and New York, over rail freights and boundaries. At the time, rail lines terminated on the New Jersey side of the harbor, while ocean shipping was centered on Manhattan and Brooklyn. Freight had to be shipped across the Hudson River in
barges.{{cite book ] (ICC) issuing an order that the two states work together, subordinating their own interests to the public interest. The Harbor Development Commission, a joint advisory board set-up in 1917, recommended that a bi-state authority be established to oversee efficient economic development of the port district. The Port Authority of New York was established on
April 30,
1921, through an interstate compact between the states of New Jersey and New York. This was the first such agency in the
United States, created under a provision in the
Constitution of the United States permitting interstate compacts. The idea for the Port Authority was conceived during the
Progressive Era, which aimed to reduce political corruption and aimed for efficiency in government. With the Port Authority at a distance from politics, it was able to carry longer-term infrastructure projects irrespective of the election cycles and in a more efficient manner. Throughout its history, there have also been concerns about democratic accountability, or lack thereof at the Port Authority.
Hudson River crossings
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were no bridge or
tunnel crossings between the two states. Under an independent agency, the Holland Tunnel was constructed and opened in 1924, with the planning and construction pre-dating the Port Authority. With the rise in
automobile traffic, there was demand for more
Hudson River crossings. Using its ability to issue Bond (finance)s and collect revenue, the Port Authority has built and managed major infrastructure projects. Early projects included bridges across the Arthur Kill, which separates
Staten Island from New Jersey. The
Goethals Bridge, named after chief engineer of the Panama Canal Commission General
George Washington Goethals, connected
Elizabeth, New Jersey and
Howland Hook, Staten Island. At the south end of Arthur Kill, the
Outerbridge Crossing was built and named after the Port Authority's first chairman, Eugenius H. Outerbridge. Construction of both bridges was completed in 1928. The
Bayonne Bridge, opened in 1931, was built across the
Kill van Kull, connecting Staten Island with Bayonne, New Jersey.
Construction began in 1927 on the
George Washington Bridge, linking the northern part of
Manhattan with
Fort Lee, New Jersey, with Port Authority chief engineer, Othmar Ammann, overseeing the project. The bridge was completed in October 1931, ahead of schedule and well under the estimated costs. This efficiency exhibited by the Port Authority impressed President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used this as a model in creating the
Tennessee Valley Authority and other such entities.
In 1930, the Holland Tunnel was placed under control of the Port Authority, providing significant
Toll tunnel revenues to the Port Authority. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, the
Lincoln Tunnel was built, connecting New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan.
Austin J. Tobin era
Airports
In 1942, Austin J. Tobin became the Executive Director of the Port Authority. In the post-World War II period, the Port Authority expanded its operations to include airports, and Marine Air Terminals, with projects including
Newark Liberty International Airport and
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal. Meanwhile, the city-owned La Guardia Field, was nearing capacity in 1939, and needed expensive upgrades and expansion. At the time, airports were operated as
loss leaders, and the city was having difficulties maintaining the status quo, losing money and not able to undertake needed expansions. The city was looking to hand the airports over to a
Public benefit corporation, possibly to Robert Moses' Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. After long negotiations with the City of New York, a 50-year lease, commencing on
May 31,
1947, went to the Port Authority of New York to rehabilitate, develop, and operate La Guardia International Airport (La Guardia Field), John F. Kennedy International Airport (Idlewild Airport), and
Floyd Bennett Field. The Port Authority transformed the airports into fee-generating facilities, adding stores and restaurants.
World Trade Center
During the post World War II period, the
United States thrived economically, with increasing international trade. It was in this economic environment, that the concept of establishing a
Worldwide world trade center was conceived. At the time, economic growth was concentrated in Midtown Manhattan, with Lower Manhattan left out. One notable exception was the construction of One Chase Manhattan Plaza in the
Financial District, Manhattan, by
David Rockefeller who led
urban renewal efforts in Lower Manhattan.
In initial plans made public in 1961, the
World Trade Center was slated to be built on a site along the East River. Objections to the plan came from New Jersey Governor
Robert B. Meyner, who resented that New York would be getting this $335 million project. Meanwhile, New Jersey's Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) was facing bankruptcy. Port Authority executive director, Austin J. Tobin agreed to take over control of the H&M Railroad, in exchange for support from New Jersey for the World Trade Center project. As part of this acquisition, the Port Authority would rehabilitate the Downtown Hudson Tubes and Uptown Hudson Tubes. The Port Authority would also obtain the
Hudson Terminal, and decrepit buildings located above the terminal in Lower Manhattan. The Port Authority decided to demolish these buildings, and use this site along the
Hudson River for the World Trade Center.
Even once the agreement between the states of New Jersey, New York, and the Port Authority was finalized, the World Trade Center plan faced continued controversy.
New York City mayor Robert Wagner raised concerns about the limited extent to which the Port Authority involved the city in the negotiations and deliberations. The site was the location of Radio Row, Manhattan electronics businesses, and the World Trade Center plans involved evicting hundreds of commercial and industrial tenants, property owners, small businesses, and approximately 100 residents, some of whom fiercely protested the forced relocation.
In 1964, Minoru Yamasaki was hired by the Port Authority as architect, and came up with the idea of twin towers. To meet the Port Authority's requirement to build 10 million square feet (930,000 m²) of office space, the towers would each be 110-stories tall. The size of the project raised ire from the owner of the Empire State Building, which would lose its title of tallest building in the world. Other critics objected to the idea of this much "subsidized" office space going on the open market, competing with the private sector. Others questioned the cost of the project, which in 1966 had risen to $575 million. Final negotiations between The City of New York and the Port Authority centered on tax issues. A final agreement was made that the Port Authority would make annual payments in lieu of taxes, for the 40% of the World Trade Center leased to private tenants. The remaining space was to be occupied by state and Federal government of the United States government agencies. In 1962, the Port Authority had signed up the
United States Customs Service as a tenant, and in 1964 they inked a deal with the
New York State to locate government offices at the World Trade Center.
In August 1968, construction on the World Trade Center's north tower started, with construction on the south tower beginning in January 1969. When the World Trade Center twin towers were completed, the total costs to the Port Authority had reached $900 million. The buildings were dedicated on April 4,
1973, with Tobin, who had resigned the year before, absent from the ceremonies.
Post-Tobin era
In 1972,
William Ronan was chosen to succeed Austin Tobin as Executive Director of the Port Authority. Also in 1972, the PR name of the agency was changed to
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (but the agency failed to secure the consent of Congress from whom it received its charter), along with structural changes implemented.
In the 1990s, the Port Authority faced controversy, with Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani alleging mismanagement at the Port Authority. He criticized the Port Authority for shifting airport revenues to support
Port Authority Trans-Hudson service and other projects in New Jersey. Giuliani went as far as proposing to break up the Port Authority, with New York Governor George Pataki also suggesting a break-up.
September 11, 2001 attacks
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 attacks, and the subsequent collapse of the World Trade Center buildings had an immense impact on the Port Authority. With Port Authority's headquarters located in 1 World Trade Center, it became deprived of a base of operations and sustained a great number of casualties. An estimated 1,400 Port Authority employees worked in the World Trade Center. The Port Authority lost a total of 84 employees, including 37 Port Authority Police Officers, its Executive Director,
Neil D. Levin, and police superintendent, Fred Morrone. In rescue efforts following the collapse, two Port Authority police officers,
John McLoughlin (World Trade Center attack survivor) and
Will Jimeno, were pulled out alive after spending nearly 24 hours beneath 30 feet of rubble. Their rescue was later portrayed in the Oliver Stone film,
World Trade Center (film).
Governance
The Port Authority is jointly headed by the governors of New York and
Governor of New Jersey. Each governor, with the approval of his or her state senate, appoints six members to the Board of Commissioners, who serve overlapping six-year terms without pay. Current Commissioners are Hon. Bruce Blakeman (NY), Hon. Michael Chasanoff (NY), Hon. Anthony Coscia (Chairman, NJ ), Hon. Christy Ferrer (NY), Hon. Charles Gargano (V.Chair,NY), Hon. Angelo Genova (NJ), Hon.David Mack (NY), Hon.Ray Pocino (NJ), Hon. Anthony Sartor (NJ), Hon. Henry Silverman (NY), Hon. Jack Sinagra (NJ) and Hon. David Steiner (NJ). A governor can veto actions by the commissioners from the same state. Meetings of the Board of Commissioners are public. The Board of Commissioners are typically comprised of business titans and political power brokers who maintain close relationships with their respective Governors.
Financially, the Port Authority has no power to tax and does not receive tax money from any local or state governments. Instead, it operates on the revenues it makes from its rents, tolls, fees, and facilities.
An Executive Director is appointed by the Board of Commissioners to deal with day-to-day operations and to execute the Port Authority's policies. Anthony Shorris is the current Executive Director of the Port Authority, after being nominated by New York Governor
Eliot Spitzer.
Former Executive Directors
Facilities
and Port of South Louisiana handling more.
Seaports
.The Port Authority operates the Brooklyn Port Authority Marine Terminal in
Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY; the Auto Marine Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey and
Jersey City, New Jersey; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; and the
Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in
Elizabeth, New Jersey. The Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal was the first in the nation to
Containerization, As of 2004, Port Authority seaports handle the third largest amount of shipping of all U.S. ports, as measured in tonnage.
Airports
at
Newark Liberty International Airport.
Airports
The Port Authority operates the following
Airport:
Both Kennedy and LaGuardia airports are owned by the City of New York and leased to the Port Authority for operating purposes. Newark Liberty is owned by Newark and also leased to the Authority.
Heliports
The Authority operates the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (
Manhattan).
Expansion
As of January, 2007, the Port Authority is to take over operation of
Stewart International Airport in Newburgh (city), New York pending authorizing legislation.
Bridges and tunnels
Other facilities managed by the Port Authority include the
Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, and the George Washington Bridge, which all connect Manhattan and northern New Jersey; the Goethals Bridge, the Outerbridge Crossing and the Bayonne Bridge, which connect Staten Island and
New Jersey. Cash tolls for passenger vehicles crossing from New Jersey to New York City are $6; there is no toll for crossing from New York to New Jersey. Discounts are available with the E-ZPass
electronic toll collection system: during peak hours (weekdays - 6-9 a.m., 4-7 p.m.; Sat./Sun. - noon to 8 p.m.), the discounted rate is $5, and at all other times (off-peak hours), the discounted rate is $4. Annual toll receipts from these facilities typically equal the initial construction costs. The Port Authority owns all these bridges and tunnels.
Bus and rail transit
-bound train at the World Trade Center (PATH station).The Port Authority operates the
Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street (Manhattan) and the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, the
Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) rapid transit system linking lower and midtown Manhattan with New Jersey, the
AirTrain (Newark) system linking
Newark International Airport with New Jersey Transit and Amtrak via a station on the
Northeast Corridor rail line, and the AirTrain (JFK) system linking JFK with Howard Beach, New York (Subway) and Jamaica, Queens (Subway and Long Island Rail Road).
Real estate
The Port Authority also participates in joint development ventures around the region, including The Teleport communications center in
Staten Island,
Bathgate Industrial Park in
The Bronx, the
Essex County, New Jersey Resource Recovery Facility, The Legal Center in
Newark, New Jersey, Queens West in
Long Island City, Queens, NY, and The South Waterfront at Hoboken, New Jersey.
Current and future projects
Major projects by the Port Authority include the Freedom Tower and other construction at the World Trade Center site. Other projects include a new passenger terminal at JFK International Airport, and redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B, and rehabilitation of the Goethals Bridge. The Port Authority also has plans to buy 340 new PATH
rail cars and begin major expansion of Stewart International Airport.
World Trade Center site
As owner of the World Trade Center site, the Port Authority has worked since 2001 on plans for reconstruction of the site, along with Silverstein Properties Inc., and the
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. In 2006, the Port Authority reached a deal with
Larry Silverstein, which ceded control of the Freedom Tower to the Port Authority. The deal gave Silverstein rights to build three towers along the eastern side of the site, including
150 Greenwich Street,
175 Greenwich Street, and 200 Greenwich Street. Also part of the plans, is the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which will replace the temporary PATH station that opened in November 2003.
See also
References
External links
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Official Website
- Video of cornerstone laying ceremony for the Freedom Tower on July 4, 2004
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - LaGuardia Airport
Introducing Airport Info- Alerts: You'll be notified of important info, like airport weather delays*, parking lot capacity and AirTrain service changes.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
august 26, 2008 port authority takes legal action to block federal auction of flight slots: august 22, 2008 media advisory - passengers at newark liberty international airport now ...
New Jersey Transit
Brunswick, Jersey City (68), Hoboken (68), Weehawken (68), New York Port Authority (138) 70: NEWARK - LIVINGSTON Florham Park, Livingston, Livingston Mall, Summit, Summit Station ...
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
october 8, 2008 port authority board takes action on wtc item: october 8, 2008 port authority announces initiative to enhance the appearance of the world trade center site
Charter Bus New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey - Bus ...
Academy ... PASSENGER NOTICES Academy Service Advisory - Port Authority Emergency Exercise
The Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York City
The Port Authority Bus Terminal Approximately three dozen bus lines operate from the Port ... If you are travelling to northern New Jersey or Rockland County, N.Y., you may want to ...
State of New Jersey - PERC
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (www.panynj.gov) The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor (www.waterfrontcommission.org) The Delaware River Port Authority of ...
BALCONY - Business and Labor Coalition of New York | BALCONY New York
New York and New Jersey are already deep in debt. The Port Authority's Chris Ward told the New York Construction Congress raising capital for badly needed upgrades to the region's ...
SeeThroughNY > Home
The most recent legislative expenditure reports and complete recent payrolls for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York State Thruway Authority have been ...
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Inspector General
ENGINEERING - M/W/S/DBE INFORMATION Annual Construction Program (1 MB PDF) Engineering Qualified M/WBE Construction Contractor Search
