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February 27, 2007
Schumer Announces $2 Billion For JFK Rail Link In President's FY08 Budget
We know that Senator Schumer probably doesn't read NoLandGrab, because as he put it, our views represent "the culture of inertia." However, someone might want to tell one of Bruce's biggest boosters that it looks like the coveted AirTrain ain't gonna happen if Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards plan goes forward (see, BrooklynViews, February 19, 2007, "Will Atlantic Yards Preclude the One Seat Ride to JFK?").
It seems that the highly touted "track improvements" — you know, the ones that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority claimed made Ratner's low-ball bid higher than Extell's — will preclude a direct rail link between Lower Manhattan and JFK. But that never stopped a politician from trying to get more money out of the Federal Government.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but at this moment, you probably know more about this setback for regional transportation than the folks in Washington and City Hall do.
Here's Schumer's press release from February 1, 2007:
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that next year's federal budget will include a $2 billion tax credit the Downtown JFK Rail link. Schumer, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, aggressively lobbied Administration officials to include the provision in the budget, expected to be released on February 5, 2007.
"This once-in-a-generation chance to connect Downtown to Kennedy Airport and Long Island will spur new business development, create jobs Downtown, and ensure New York's economic growth for decades to come," Schumer said. "Building a link between Kennedy Airport and the labor pool of Long Island will be especially important to businesses considering staying or moving to Downtown. When we finally get it done, it will be a big win for all of New York."
After 9/11, President Bush committed to providing New York with $20 billion in aid. As part of that original $20 billion commitment, Congress passed a $5 billion Liberty Zone tax incentive program in the "Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002." Unfortunately, some of the tax incentives have gone unutilized, and Schumer has sought for two years to convert those unused incentives into other projects that could benefit Lower Manhattan. President Bush included a $2 billion "trade-in" in his last two budget proposals, for fiscal years 2006 and 2007.
Last year, after months of working closely with the City and State, as well as Senate leaders, Senator Schumer succeeded in adding a $1.75 billion tax credit program (over 15 years) to tax bills that passed both the House and Senate. The credits were available to New York City and New York State to be used for public transportation infrastructure projects in or connecting with the New York Liberty Zone. However, at year's end, the provision was removed in conference and was not included in the final version of the tax extenders package that became law. Senator Schumer then lobbied the Administration to include the provision in its 2008 budget proposal so that it could pass both the House and Senate again and hopefully be signed into law this year.
The rail project is expected to cost $6 billion. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has already committed $560 million to the project and the MTA has $400 million in its capital plan for this project. Combined with these initial contributions, a redeployment of the available portions of the tax package for this project would represent a substantial amount toward the total required, and would give the momentum necessary to raise the remaining funds.
Posted by lumi at February 27, 2007 6:45 AM