Trump pulls brakes on $13B Obama-backed rail-tunnel plan

[Right_in_Virginia]

Trump pulls brakes on $13B Obama-backed rail-tunnel plan
Fox News, Dec 31, 2017, Bedford Betz

An Obama-era plan to have the federal government finance half of a $13 billion rail tunnel project ran into a red light Friday from the Trump administration.

The plan, proposed under President Barack Obama in 2015, includes revitalizing a deteriorating Amtrak tunnel connecting New Jersey to New York City, repairing damage to a dual-tunnel conduit, and reconstructing the New Jersey railroad network’s aging Portal Bridge, Crain’s New York Business reported.

The original Obama-era plan called for costs to be split among New York state, New Jersey and the federal government.  But in a letter Friday, the Trump administration notified New York and New Jersey that the Obama-era deal was now "non-existent" because the states recently requested that their portions be covered by loans from the federal government -- meaning Washington would supply all of the initial funding for what the Trump White House is calling "a local project."


More: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/31/trump-pulls-brakes-on-13b-obama-backed-rail-tunnel-plan.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

[IsailedawayfromFR]

It is only right.  The overwhelming benefit is to the states of New Jersey and New York, not the other 48 states.

Let them pay for it.

Trump is getting us back to a Republic where the states are individually sovereign to decide themselves what is best for them with limited federal interference.

[WingNot]

[Right_in_Virginia]

  @WineNot

[Suppressed]

Excellent!

[Sanguine]

I watched Trump being interviewed by Jesse Watters yesterday.  Quite complimentary of the big 0. 

But, I'm very glad he pulled the plug on this project.  I don't give a darn how New Yorkers and New Jerseyites get around and I sure don't want to pay for it.

[Applewood]

$13 billion dollars for a couple of tunnels?  Sounds like another union slush fund to me. 

This is why I'm nervous about Trump's infrastructure proposal...or any other such project for example.  Who knows where the money is really going?  And no one seems able to justify the hefty price tag.  A number is thrown out and we taxpayers are supposed to just foot the bill without questioning where the money is going.

[BassWrangler]

$13 billion dollars for a couple of tunnels?  Sounds like another union slush fund to me. 

This is why I'm nervous about Trump's infrastructure proposal...or any other such project for example.  Who knows where the money is really going?  And no one seems able to justify the hefty price tag.  A number is thrown out and we taxpayers are supposed to just foot the bill without questioning where the money is going.

Regardless of where they say the money is going, we should all remember what happened with the last “infrastructure” bill (aka “porkulus”); the money was used to fund already funded state projects, and the states then took the money saved and applied it to other stuff - shoring up public employee pension programs, mostly.

[Sanguine]

Is there some reason you cannot comment on this action by Trump without bringing in all kinds of unrelated possibilities.  I like that he did this.

OK, Emjay, that photo is weird.

But, for related comments, if we're worried about one federal infrastructure plan, we should be worried about another one.

[edpc]

It is only right.  The overwhelming benefit is to the states of New Jersey and New York, not the other 48 states.

Let them pay for it.

Trump is getting us back to a Republic where the states are individually sovereign to decide themselves what is best for them with limited federal interference.

Remember that when he rolls out his $1T infrastructure plan.

[DCPatriot]

I love the expression on Eric's face...in context.   

[Cyber Liberty]

I love that meme.  Stolen and saved to hard drive for later use.....

 

[Emjay]

OK, Emjay, that photo is weird.

But, for related comments, if we're worried about one federal infrastructure plan, we should be worried about another one.

That photo is interesting.  It has a romanticized picture of Trump and an accurate one of Melania.

[edpc]

That photo is interesting.  It has a romanticized picture of Trump and an accurate one of Melania.

That's interesting, because Kelly McGillis is a lesbian.

[mystery-ak]

Trump administration shuts down $13 billion Obama-era Amtrak plan
by Kelly Cohen | Dec 31, 2017, 3:50 PM

The Trump administration has shut down a $13 billion federal spending plan to rebuild an Amtrak project between New York and New Jersey.

According to a letter obtained by Crain’s New York Business, the administration called the deal proposed by former President Barack Obama — which would have been half paid for by the federal government — “non-existent.”

“Your letter also references a non-existent '50/50' agreement between [the Department of Transportation], New York, and New Jersey. There is no such agreement," wrote Federal Transit Administration deputy administrator K. Jane Williams in a Friday letter. “We consider it unhelpful to reference a non-existent 'agreement' rather than directly address the responsibility for funding a local project where nine out of 10 passengers are local transit riders.”

more
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-administration-shuts-down-13-billion-obama-era-amtrak-plan/article/2644677

[goodwithagun]

Again, props when they are due. They are do now. Good job, Mr. President.

[Cyber Liberty]

“Your letter also references a non-existent '50/50' agreement between [the Department of Transportation], New York, and New Jersey. There is no such agreement," wrote Federal Transit Administration deputy administrator K. Jane Williams in a Friday letter. “We consider it unhelpful to reference a non-existent 'agreement' rather than directly address the responsibility for funding a local project where nine out of 10 passengers are local transit riders.”

That's gonna leave a mark.

[musiclady]

Good.   Now maybe they can use the money to rebuild the bridges.

In Minnesota when the leftist government there decided to build a light rail to the Mall of America (with money allotted for bridge repair), it resulted in the collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi and multiple deaths.

[Cyber Liberty]

Good.   Now maybe they can use the money to rebuild the bridges.

In Minnesota when the leftist government there decided to build a light rail to the Mall of America (with money allotted for bridge repair), it resulted in the collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi and multiple deaths.

I thought that was Bush's fault?

[Mod1]

Topics merged.

[musiclady]

I thought that was Bush's fault?

That's what the Dems in Minnesota who actually caused the collapse were screaming.

Then again, everything everywhere was and is Bush's fault......

[driftdiver]

That's what the Dems in Minnesota who actually caused the collapse were screaming.

Then again, everything everywhere was and is Bush's fault......

Thought it was Trumps fault.

[musiclady]

Thought it was Trumps fault.

Nobody in their right mind ever thought he would be President when that bridge collapsed.

[driftdiver]

Nobody in their right mind ever thought he would be President when that bridge collapsed.

Ok so we've found ONE thing that isn't Trumps fault.   Nice way to end the year.