NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has proposed replacing the AirTrain monoral at New Jersey’s Liberty International Airport, a project which could cost $2.1 billion.
The current system which opened in 1996, is nearing the end of its 25-year lifespan and is beginning to show its age, according to a report from New Jersey 101.5 radio. “Eleven million riders a year on this system,” Murphy said. “They deserve more than a bubble-gum and duct-tape approach for meeting their flights.” He said it would take $400 million to keep the existing system running for another decade.
The system is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which also operates the AirTrain at New York’s Kennedy Airport. Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton, noting the low ratings for the three New York area airports (the other being LaGuardia), said, “We have to rebuild our legacy infrastructure. We need new facilities, new terminals, new everything,”
The Port authority has 2 billion for this! What about the GW Bridge? Its 100 years old and It reached capacity about 50 years ago. If you can’t build a new one how about reducing the extortianate tolls on the old one? Those olls and those delays area disgrace to New York City. Murphy who is totally unknown in New Jersey is just another of the never ending line of insider politicians who feed on the hard working people of this state. The Newark airport is just fine. How many airports even have a monorail.
Sounds like BS to me, overhaul is cheaper. Aircraft have no lifespan till it crashes. B52 is still flying at 67 years. Anyone tells me a train has a lifespan, I tell them only living things have lifespans, DUH!!
Let’s see…to use the governor’s own numbers. For $400 million, I get 10 more years or $40 million per year. Or I can spend $2.1 billion to get a new system that would presumably last 25 years, or $84 million per year. The choice is clear to me…
Mister Landey:
I have to agree with you concerning LGA, EWR, and JFK. I have flown into and out of them numerous times and my opinion I must keep to myself lest I run afoul of some public blasphemy law or other.
It would be nice if the monorail were to be replaced with another monorail, and even nicer if it were to link all three airports, AND ALSO GO INTO MANHATTAN!!! But that is only my opinion and, like Ugarti, who am I to have an opinion?
The above comments are general in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Find your own damn lawyer.
The notion that any sort of capital project would be built with a 25 year service life is preposterous. For many such things, a quarter century is just the break-in period. No, what this comes across as being is some typical NJ corruption and graft. Enough of those, and you can get such inferior work that it might not last 25 days. There’s no doubt that the pols and the contractors and construction unions and their allies want to see some more $ billions spent on something, and this is a perfect fit.
Twenty-five year life?
How long has the Golden Gate bridge stood without replacement and how many more years are expected of it.
Yup, he’s right. LGA, EWR and JFK are considered three of the nation’s worst airports. Building infrastructure to a 25-year life doesn’t help, does it?
John A. Roebling designed and built the Cincinnati Suspension bridge which opened in 1866. He then went on to build the Brooklyn Bridge. Both still stand and do their designed tasks. The Romans designed aqueducts like the Pont du Gard were built about 1980 years ago (40 AD) and still stands. When I was in France, I went to see it and was in awe of what was built. It no longer carries water but it still stands.
It is a shame that we have become a throw away society.
Al Dicenso. Truer words were never spoken. At least in New York and New Jersey.
Al, I read that the Tappan Zee Bridge was knowingly under-designed due to materials shortages after the Korean War. I can’t know if that was the actual case or if it was retro-cow manure to “explain” its deterioration after the fact. In any case, that was the first I knew there supposedly were materials shortages after the Korean War. More typically, a war ending means a materials surplus.
A similar design, Boston’s Maurice Tobin Bridge (f/k/a Mystic River Bridge) is older than the TZ and its projected life span into the future is indefinite as far as I know.
Anna, it’s been 25 years since I was at EWR and fifty years or more for the other two. So I’ve been quite fortunate. It’s amazing that our largest and best-known city goes zero-for-three for airports.
25 year service lives are routine in the NJ-NY nexus; note the Tappan Zee bridge fiasco. It keeps the construction unions busy, which keeps the money flowing into the politicians’ coffers, and gives them lots of TV and microphone exposure, taking credit for the wonderful works they are promoting, while the taxpayers get the shaft. And Rockville and Golden Gate Bridges soldier on!