On the contrary, Christie was right to turn down the dig as was proposed. It was not good for NJT in the long run nor good for NJ overall. It was a two platorm stub terminal which meant everytrain in had to get right out to make room for the next train. It was not connected to NYP complex, it really would have created more problems for NJT than it solved. It was shortsighted in so many ways and probably the only right decsions Christie has ever made according to many.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
Dakguy201:
I don't know. I get the impression that not many people, particularly the younger ones, even follow hard news or politics that much these days. Personally, as much as the new tunnells under the river are needed, I have a suspicion that absent the proper controls it would end up being another "big dig" situation.
We'll never know if Christy was right to turn down what was originally proposed, but given what has since happened with the current DC administration's operations since 2009, I have a suspicion that he likely was correct in his thinking that NJ was going to be stuck with billions of cost overruns.
alphas I spent a lot of time in NJ with a former brother-in-law who was heavily involved in the public sector as a contractor. He told me enough stories to convine me that all NJ government levels are corrupt, even more than most states.
I spent a lot of time in NJ with a former brother-in-law who was heavily involved in the public sector as a contractor. He told me enough stories to convine me that all NJ government levels are corrupt, even more than most states.
Is it possible the reason the rest of the country is indifferent to the bridge and tunnel replacement problems of the Corridor is the massive corruption on the part of contractors, politicians and labor that large scale construction projects attract there?
Ah Yes. New Jersey. Take Newark Please, the city that nobody wants to admit they are from. Last time I was there, they had more board up buildings than a Key West town before a hurricane. I lived I jersey for 2 years and to be more polite, the state run goverment, even at that time had little to be desired. To to New Jersey people, The state itself is a nice place with a lot of wonderful places to see and visit. Bad politics does not meen a bad state. But, it doesn't help.
I Live in Jersey way back in 1971. Asbury Park/Oakhurst. Stationed At FT Monmouth-Signal Corps/School, north of Eatontown. I enjoyed it out there, specially the BR&W train ride from Flemington to Ringos. Jerseys' goverment left little to be desired at best, sounds worse now.
Well, there is a saying in New Jersey to the effect of if you want to get anything accomplished you have to do the following...
1) Find the appropriate state official.
2) Get a brown paper bag.
3) Fill bag with money.
4) Present to state official.
Before anyone screams out there I'm from New Jersey, left 28 years ago.
The sad thing is, I still miss NJ, it's got so much going for it, the history, the places to go and see (and all within a two hour drive!), the diversity of geography and people, and the food!
It's sad, the people of New Jersey deserve better, but nothing's going to change the state except bankruptcy, Detroit on a grand scale.
Then again, people do get the government they deserve, all people, everywhere.
I noticed that the article said the "can was kicked down the road for 10 years" so this problem predates Christy. And no Republican governor will ever keep his base if he is seen as raising taxes rather than first cutting expenses.
Not carrying any water for Chris Christie, but he's a Republican governor in a state who's government, both state and local, is owned by Democrats, and has been for decades. Realistically, how much can he accomplish?
And consider the fact that no heads at NJT rolled after the Hurricane Sandy fiasco, and didn't roll until after the Super Bowl mess became a national embarasssment, I have to wonder just what goes on behind the scenes at NJT, i.e. who owes what to whom, who knows where the bodies are buried, who's said "take me down and I'll take you down with me!" and so forth.
Probably enough stuff going on there to make Nicolo Machiavelli's head spin!
At this point, Christie has lost all interest in governing New Jersey in his quest for the Republican presidential nomination. His recent approval numbers in the state are below 30%. He's lied to workers, played loose with financial laws (SEC investigation ongoing), forstered a management culture in his office which led to "Bridgegate", so this NJTransit mess is just one more item on the list.
If NJTransit unions strike, his response will be to call them names.
Guess armor plated governor will not feel any effect ?
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/06/the_mass_transit_mess_and_christies_failure_to_lea.html#incart_river
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