Last night, when it wasn't talking about people who NEVER FORGET, 60 Minutes was busy talking about just how messed up the state of state debt has become across the nation. And who better to talk up the topic than everyone's favorite tunnel-cutting Governor, Chris Christie. Between depressing statistics the Jersey gov showed up to chat about the serious problem of states spending beyond their means: "The federal government doesn't have the money to paper over it anymore, either, for the states," Christie said. "The day of reckoning has arrived." more ›

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. more ›

A few weeks back we learned that the Federal Transit Administration was demanding that New Jersey refund the over $2.7 billion the FTA invested in the ARC Tunnel Project, which Governor Chris Christie cancelled because it got too expensive. According to the debt notice obtained by AP, "FTA demands payment in full within 30 days from the date of this letter, hereinafter referred to as the 'delinquency date,'" which was November 24th. So much for holiday bonuses. more ›

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called his cancellation of the Trans-Hudson ARC tunnel project a "dollars and sense issue," as New Jersey couldn't afford the cost of $2.7 billion plus any overruns for the project. But now that he's cancelled it, the Federal Transit Administration is asking for the state to refund the cash they put in. In a letter written to NJ Transit head James Weinstein, the FTA says, “NJT must immediately repay all the Federal financial assistance expended for ARC under the [work agreement] which is currently estimated to be $271.091 million, plus reasonable interest and penalty charges that will be determined by FTA." Who wants to bet on when NJ Transit raises their fares? more ›

A few weeks ago, NJ Governor Chris Christie cancelled plans to build a second NJ Transit tunnel between New Jersey and New York, seemingly for good. Well, not if Amtrak has anything to say about it. Amtrak Vice President Al Engel says they're talking to NJ Transit about teaming up and finishing the tunnel themselves, and using it for a high-speed rail. However, they stress there is nothing set in stone, so there's still plenty of time for the abandoned construction space to get turned into an elite street art collection. more ›

On October 7th, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie officially cancelled the ARC tunnel project, saying the state couldn't afford its share of the $8.7 billion or more the project needed. On October 8th, Christie agreed to a two-week review of possible payment options. Today, he announced that after two weeks, New Jersey is still too broke. Sayonara, hope of getting home from the Meadowlands without a clusterfuck. more ›

Governor Chris Christie has until this Friday to review and decide on several options to save the plan for the new Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel from New Jersey to Penn Station, and New Jersey senators are taking to the streets to put pressure on Christie to approve the project once again. Democratic Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez will rally with union workers at the tunnel's construction site in North Bergen, and previously spoke of the benefits of the new rail. He said in a statement: more ›

After tempting commuters with the prospect of doubled NJ Transit rail capacity and then killing it a year after construction started, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood managed to convince Governor Chris Christie to think the plan over yet again. more ›

According to WNYC, Governor Chris Christie will announce by the end of the week that he is officially pulling the plug on the Trans-Hudson Express tunnel (aka the ARC project), the $8.7 billion tunnel that would have doubled rail capacity between New York and New Jersey. Christie previously hinted at the cancellation at a campaign event for Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Brady of Illinois, saying, "I was alerted to the fact that there were potential for significant cost overruns, and New Jersey's broke. And the federal government made it clear that New Jersey will be on the hook for any cost overruns on the project." So long, express to Secaucus! more ›

Though New Jersey Governor Chris Christie admits he is the one who pulled the plug on the $8.7 billion Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel, don't let that fool you into thinking he's actually going to take the blame. Nope, NJ Transit lines will remain clogged, and it's all former Governor Corzine's fault! Christie said the project "went from $5 billion to $8.7 billion in what was clearly a rush by the Corzine administration to have gold shovels and put them the ground and try to get (former Gov. Jon) Corzine re-elected. That obviously was less than successful." more ›

Those NJ Transit fare hikes just aren't paying the bills, and are costing the state an $8.7 billion new railway tunnel that would connect New Jersey and New York. NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein said the state is temporarily halting all work on the "Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel" because it may cost the state an extra $1 billion over its $2.7 billion share. Weinstein said, "We feel pretty strongly that the current cost estimate, which is $8.7 billion, is a number we can achieve. But I’m under clear direction by the governor that this is not going to be a bottomless pit. If we are to go forward, he wants to know the costs and budget are under control." more ›