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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2007
CONTACT:
Ginger Hope
717-787-6538
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Orie Again Seeks Spending Limit for North Shore Connector 

HARRISBURG – State Sen. Jane Orie (R-40) today announced that she will re-introduce a joint resolution in the General Assembly limiting the amount of money that Pennsylvania will commit to the North Shore Connector project.  During the 2006-2007 Legislative Session, the state Senate adopted the resolution with bipartisan support from Logan, Ferlo, Fontana, Costa, Pippy ; however, the House of Representatives did not vote on it.

"With the recent announcement by the Port Authority that layoffs and service cutbacks must be made to restore the financial health of the mass transit agency serving our area, it is imperative that should the construction of the North Shore Connector project proceed, costs must be contained," said Orie.

The estimated cost of the twin-tunnel rail line linking downtown Pittsburgh to PNC Park, Heinz Field and developments on the North Shore has skyrocketed in spite of a number of cuts to reduce the total project cost. Originally estimated at $363 million, the project cost has now reached $435 million.  The Federal Transit Administration has agreed to pay 80 percent of the $435 million expansion from the Downtown to the North Shore.

The Orie joint resolution would limit the Commonwealth's exposure to further cost increases by clearly stating that the General Assembly will not commit additional state funding to the project. Allegheny County Council has passed a similar motion that limits county funding to the amount of money currently committed to the project. 

"The decision by the Port Authority to proceed on the North Shore Connector project must be done with the knowledge that the state's funding commitment has been fulfilled.  And, if costs for the North Shore Connector increase, the taxpayers of the Commonwealth will not foot the bill," Orie said. 

In accord with the federal Full Funding Grant Agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, the state is responsible for funding 16 2/3rds of the project, which based on the current project cost, would be $72 million.  The federal government will provide 80% of the funds, with local sources providing the remainder.  The North Shore Connector is scheduled for completion in 2011.