The head of the Port Authority implied yesterday there would be new price hikes on commuters soon, in order to fix crumbling city infrastructures. PA executive director Christopher Ward spoke to New York Building Congress yesterday, outlining the need for more money: “We need to find new creative pricing schemes that pull wealth out of that economy and reinvest in the infrastructure that we know we need today…The public does embrace the idea of paying for something. They just need to tangibly see it get built.” There were no specifics about what might increase for commuters, though one possible proposal is for drivers to pay a premium to use fast lanes on bridges and in tunnels. Infrastructure upgrades deemed necessary include rebuilding the cramped Port Authority terminal, rebuilding city bridges, and fixing LaGuardia and JFK airports. “LaGuardia is not an airport that New York can be proud of. LaGuardia must be fundamentally rebuilt,” Ward said harshly, but not without support . Ward also said that he was “mildly optimistic” that a deal would be made with Larry Silverstein to complete the three stalled office towers at the WTC site . If the two sides can’t come to an agreement by today, an arbitration panel will be brought in. As it stands so far today, things are looking grim ( as ever ), the WSJ reports . The PA also announced that in the next year they will be phasing out all trucks made before 1994 with more energy-efficient ones (that emit fewer greenhouse gases), in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency. By 2017, no truck will be allowed unless their engines meet or exceed 2007 federal emissions standards.

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Port Authority Threatening Fare Hikes