TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie Thursday said he will consider an offer from the federal government that would ease its demand that New Jersey pay big for his decision to cancel the rail tunnel under the Hudson River. "I would say that offer was a nice start, and we’ll continue to talk," Christie said at a press conference Thursday....
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood offered to return $128 million of the $271 million the feds are charging the state, and deposit that money into a fund to be used for future New Jersey transportation projectsTRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie Thursday said he will consider an offer from the federal government that would ease its demand that New Jersey pay big for his decision to cancel the rail tunnel under the Hudson River.
"I would say that offer was a nice start, and we’ll continue to talk," Christie said at a press conference Thursday.
In a letter dated Tuesday to U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez (both D-N.J.), federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood offered to return $128 million of the $271 million the feds are charging the state, and deposit that money into a fund to be used for future New Jersey transportation projects.
Christie said he has still not heard from LaHood about the offer.
"I’m always happy to talk to Secretary LaHood," Christie said, adding that he wanted to discuss the tunnel with the federal administration instead of through the press.
Christie said his office obtained copies of the letter and Lautenberg’s office confirmed a copy was sent to the governor’s office.
Christie canceled the Access to the Region’s Core, or ARC, in October, citing the possibility the project could run more than a $1 billion over the original estimate and noting New Jersey would have to pay for cost overruns. Because the federal DOT had already done work on the project, they presented New Jersey with a $271 million tab for the completed work.
Christie, calling the tab political, hired Washington-based power law and lobbying firm Patton Boggs, to fight the bill. New Jersey will pay Patton Boggs $485 an hour to fight bill.
Lautenberg, criticized by Christie for not supporting his decision to cancel the tunnel, asked LaHood to reduce the cost to New Jersey. The federal DOT has set a Dec. 24 deadline for the state to make its payment.