Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Wabash Tunnel Fiasco
In an effort to cut costs the Port Authority (PAT) has turned its sites on the $40 million hole in Mt. Washington as a place to start. Has PAT given up on the Wabash? After all they said that the tunnel would “positively impact traffic flow” coming into and out of the City. As it was being rehabilitated from a train tunnel to an HOV lane, PAT touted it as being able to carry about 4,500 cars per day. Less than two years, and more than $40 million later, it’s on the chopping block.
It is estimated that only about 120 vehicles use the Wabash during the day during the morning and afternoon rush hours—far short of projections. Annual operating costs, paid to a private company, are $780,000 to keep the lanes flowing in the proper direction (it is only one lane and traffic flows only one way at a time) and keep it clear of accidents and snow. Thus a trip through the tunnel is costing taxpayers about $13 just in operating costs. Throw in capital costs, and it is easily the most expensive ride in town.
The justification for reopening it as an HOV lane was Federal money. PAT was able to secure federal funding to build the West Busway, $321.6 million in a “full funding agreement” in which federal funds would cover 80 percent of the project. They had included rehabbing the tunnel as part of the project. Another part of the plan was to restore the bridge across the Monongahela River—it was rejected in the court of public opinion, and then because of inadequate funds.
PAT went ahead and finished the tunnel, adding a ramp to West Carson Street, under the guise of “using or losing” the Federal funds and jeopardizing their chances at any federal funding for future projects. Now they are stuck with this albatross and are looking to close it down to save operating costs.
If any of this sounds familiar, it should. These are the same arguments that PAT has pulled out to build another questionable tunnel—the North Shore Connector.
Knowing the public support for the Connector is minimal at best, the Port Authority continues with its plan to build the $435 million boondoggle. Their reasoning is that if they don’t, they will lose Federal funding—80 percent of the project—and may not be able to get money for future projects. The use it or lose it argument that worked so well with the Wabash Tunnel.
The Port Authority is looking to close the Wabash because ridership has never reached its lofty projections and they can no longer afford the operating costs. With its pie-in-the-sky ridership projections, it is likely that the North Shore Connector will not live up to expectations. PAT’s recurring budget deficits also make it likely they will not be able to cover the increased operating costs associated with the Connector. The similarities between the Wabash and North Shore Connector are such that history may be ready to repeat itself.
It is estimated that only about 120 vehicles use the Wabash during the day during the morning and afternoon rush hours—far short of projections. Annual operating costs, paid to a private company, are $780,000 to keep the lanes flowing in the proper direction (it is only one lane and traffic flows only one way at a time) and keep it clear of accidents and snow. Thus a trip through the tunnel is costing taxpayers about $13 just in operating costs. Throw in capital costs, and it is easily the most expensive ride in town.
The justification for reopening it as an HOV lane was Federal money. PAT was able to secure federal funding to build the West Busway, $321.6 million in a “full funding agreement” in which federal funds would cover 80 percent of the project. They had included rehabbing the tunnel as part of the project. Another part of the plan was to restore the bridge across the Monongahela River—it was rejected in the court of public opinion, and then because of inadequate funds.
PAT went ahead and finished the tunnel, adding a ramp to West Carson Street, under the guise of “using or losing” the Federal funds and jeopardizing their chances at any federal funding for future projects. Now they are stuck with this albatross and are looking to close it down to save operating costs.
If any of this sounds familiar, it should. These are the same arguments that PAT has pulled out to build another questionable tunnel—the North Shore Connector.
Knowing the public support for the Connector is minimal at best, the Port Authority continues with its plan to build the $435 million boondoggle. Their reasoning is that if they don’t, they will lose Federal funding—80 percent of the project—and may not be able to get money for future projects. The use it or lose it argument that worked so well with the Wabash Tunnel.
The Port Authority is looking to close the Wabash because ridership has never reached its lofty projections and they can no longer afford the operating costs. With its pie-in-the-sky ridership projections, it is likely that the North Shore Connector will not live up to expectations. PAT’s recurring budget deficits also make it likely they will not be able to cover the increased operating costs associated with the Connector. The similarities between the Wabash and North Shore Connector are such that history may be ready to repeat itself.
