Now that the Trans-Hudson Express tunnel is never going to happen and the Federal Transit Administration is insisting that it be paid back the $271 million it gave for the project by Christmas, what to do? Sue, obviously. New Jersey Transit's executive board yesterday approved the hiring of DC lawfirm Patton Boggs to challenge the tab. Which means, as the Post points out, to not pay millions of dollars NJ Transit, which still has lots of financial problems, is hiring a firm that charges $485 bucks an hour.

However, NJ Transit executive director James Weinstein sees no problem with that, saying “We’re fighting to keep $271 million. Whatever we pay the law firm is far less than what the federal government is asking us to pay them." Sure, but maybe they should have just built the tunnel?