EXECUTIVE OFFICE
From:
I
.
INTER-COMMUNICATION
Ed Mclynn
JAMES WEINSTEIN
To:
Director. Authontles Unit
Mike Cole
chief Counsel
October 14, 1986
(InitHutlor,
0(
D.p.rtm.nt)
Dote:
CONFIDENTIAL
RE: DELAWARE RIVER OI]? AUTHORITY
1. BACKGIDUND
The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) continues to be a sore that
will not heal.
It has demonstrated time and again that for a variety of
reasons it is incapable of providing the kind of leadership in the region that
an agency of its magnitude and financial substance can and should be provid
ing.
Even worse, more often than not it has proven to be an obstacle to
regional progress. For instance:
PORt’ UNIFICATION
There is general agreement in the port cormamity on
both sides of the Delaware River that steps must be taken to minimize if not
eliminate intra—port competition if the New Jersey and Pennsylvania port
operations on the Delaware River are to survive. Failure to accomplish this
eventually will result in cargo going to other east coast ports such as Bal
timore and Norfolk where the respective agencies have taken the steps neces
saiy to be competitive.
Despite this realization, however, the DRPA is paralyzed at the policy
level (1. e. the board of commissioners) by internecine battles that are rooted
in personalities and are being waged in the name of “the best interests” of
their respective states.
The analogy that comes to mind is Nero fiddling
while Rome burned.
Clearly, there are differences of opinion among the Commissioners that
are legitimate. However, because these differences are tinged by personal em
nity, it is virtually impossible to achieve substantive ccatipromise on port
unification or any other major issue.
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ATLANTIC CITY RAIL PROJECI’
In order to complete the inter-city rail
project between Philadelphia and Atlantic City as well as to run the maximum
NJ TRANSIT commuter service that was a prerequisite for the Governor’s signoff
on this project, a trackage rights agreement with DRPA is necessary. This was
worked out between DPPA rail people and NJ TRANSIT rail staff during the sum
mer.
However, when it was prematurely bumped up to the board of cormmis
sioners, the agreement became mired in what can only be described as a fic
titious indemnification issue.
To date there is no agreement. Construction
crews working on the AC Rail Project are very close to the DRPA area of the
project and unless an agreement is worked out, the project way well be shut
down.
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es to go
This too has become involved in the internecine bickering that continu
on between several of the commissioners from both states.
In the overall scheme of things, it is
CAI1D WATERFRONT REDEVELDNT
ront redevelop
inconceivable that the DPPA is not a maj or player in the waterf
Clearly,
ment effort that is underway in Carden. nd yet, that is the case.
to
amendment
the bi—state compact under which the DRPA operates would require
if
even
enable the DPPA to participate in the redevelopment efforts. However,
exist
the
that change in the statutes were to take place, it is unlikely that
s cortimis
ing board would be willing to get involved. A nuier of New Jersey’
used
sioners as well as Pennsylvania’s don’t believe toll revenues should be
ic
econom
the
to support the authority’s public transit line, let alone
redevelopment of Camden.
—
In the face of these major issues the Ccmuuissioners con
(YIHER ISSUES
ss to
tinue to focus on matters in public that are indicative of the pettine
or
collect
toll
oms,
which this authority has relegated itself. Ladies bathro
Corrmis
the
by
d
uniforms and detailed reports on cocktail parties attende
that the
sioners during their overseas trade mission. These are the issues
en
aren’t
they
board focuses on in public session (newsclips attached) when
dis
ate
domin
that
gaging in their increasingly frequent personality battles
cussions of major issues.
—
The one example of the personality problems indica
PEPSONAIJTY ISSUES
on the
tive of how this authority is conducting its affairs these days centers
toll
the
for
toll increase that took effect last July. Ostensibly, the need
Ben
the
ing
of
hike from 75 cents to 90 cents was precipitated by the redeck
d
believe
ers
Franklin Bridge, a $50 million project. The New Jersey Commission
s
lvania’
the best way to fund this was by implementing a toll increase. Pennsy
Commissioners wanted a bond issue.
In order to get the Pennsylvania Commissioners to agree to the toll iners
crease which was necessary to get it implemented, the New Jersey Commission
ted
agreed to support a bond issue later in the year. Pennsylvania then suppor
vote,
the toll hike. However, in Septexrer when the Bond issue came up for a
ent
agreem
g
standin
their
despite
it,
t
agains
voted
ers
New Jersey’ s Commission
nt
to support it. The response of the New Jersey Commissioners to this appare
we
renegging was “A lot of us had our fingers crossed behind our back when
agreed to that.”
was
Substantively, whether or not there should have been a bond issue
not
is
That
way.
either
ed
defend
been
have
could
and is a judgment call that
became
lvania
Pennsy
that
was
d
handle
it
was
the issue. The result of the way
port
an obstacle to the AC Pail trackage rights agreement and the entire
unification discussion has been halted.
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2. A Pl?N FOR ‘IHE FUTURE
ts
All of this might be amusing were it not for the problems it presen
has
Governor
the
date,
To
n.
for the state and particularly, this administratio
function.
escaped criticism regarding the DPPA and the way it does or doesn’t
will be
mess
entire
the
and
However, at some point our luck may well run out
on our doorstep.
be missing a significant
Even if our luck holds, however, I believe we will
continue along its cur
to
ted
permit
opportunity for the State if the DRPA is
economy of
the
in
player
major
rent path. The authority should be a
ity of New York and
Author
Port
the
of
its region with a role similar to that
Redevelopment. It
ront
n
Waterf
Caxrde
the
New Jersey. It should be a player in
of the ports of
ility
ic
viab
econom
the
g
should be the guiding force in assurin
a cooperative
be
It
should
lvania.
Pennsy
the Delaware River in New Jersey and
ortation Cen—
Transp
n
Caxrde
the
and
t
party to ventures like the AC Rail Projec
assuming its
of
e
capabl
is
it
nor
these
ter. Unfortunately, it is none of
stand.
now
things
as
proper leadership role in the region
3. RECONNEN1DATION
action:
In view of the above, we propose the following course of
concert
o Shortly after next month’s election Governor Kean, in
ce
announ
lvania
Pennsy
of
t
or-elec
Govern
with the Governor and, hopefully, the
ca
unifi
port
a
ate
formul
to
PA)
NJ/6
the appointment of a 12-member panel (6
the DPPA that en
tion strategy as well as define a more significant role for
is a report
this
of
out
come
should
visions the future of the region. What
e:
includ
should
um,
reconui-tending compact changes that, at a minim
Veto power for the Governor;
The outline of a plan for port unification;
y’s
Ex-officio membership on the DRPA Board by New Jerse
Transportation Commissioner; and
do
A recrnendation to expand the DRPA’ s power to enable it to
economic development projects in the region.
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This panel would pre-empt the effort by Walter Rand’ s subcommittee
antly, however,
that currently is looking into port unification. More import
on the high
DRPA
the
of
future
it would put the discussion of the role and
in which
ics
polit
local
and
road and get it out of the morass of personalities
it is now stuck.
to
It is important to understand that the purpose of this panel is
over
nted
leme
be
can
that
put together a plan for the future of the DRPA
ed to be the tradi
the next 12 to 18 months and thereafter. It is not intend
25 years numerous
last
the
tional blue ribbon panel approach because over
have been con
groups
”
ribbon
studies by a wide variety of respected “blue
to
be an action
ed
intend
is
This
ducted and nothing has ever come of them.
plan group, not another study group.
New
o Consistent with this approach we would reconmiend that the
Gluck,
Hazel
Rand,
Walter
Davis,
Jersey members of the panel consist of Brenda
one of the most
Ming Hu, Joseph Baizano of South Jersey Port Corp., (he is
Board of Direc
the
of
er
memb
a
s,
respected operators on the river) and perhap
is important to
it
Again,
ration.
tors of the Coopers Ferry Development Corpo
a plan that
out
er
hamm
to
is
group
g
understand that the purpose of this workin
t.
suppor
and
e
embrac
the chief executives of both state’s can
o All of the Governor’s nominations of individuals to be DPPA Com
missioners should be withdrawn. They are: William Dickey, John Gilmore, Gus
Pistilli, Mary Ruth Tally, Haldane King,, and Francis Bodine. All are currently
being held because of senatorial courtesy. Consequently, only Walter Smith, a
former Senator, is serving a term. The rest are in holdover status. The
rationale that could be put forth for this move would be that the Governor
wants to re-evaluate his appointments to the DRPA once the panel has come back
with its report. This approach provides the opportunity to either change Corn
miss ioners or conel existing Commissioners to clean up their acts.
4.
CONCLUSION
The preceding lays out a plan of action aied at reshaping the role of
the DRPA while extricating the Administration from what amounts, at this
point, to a deteriorating situation. It is difficult to relate what is going
on with the DPPA without some stridency, as the tone of this memorandum may
reflect.
And, it is inossible to discuss what is going on at the policy
level without discussion the intense personality clashes that are part of
every meeting of this group.
The proposals we have put forth above are consistent with Todd
iguire’
s memo to the Governor last summer to which the Governor reacted
Cal
favorably. And, while it may go a little further as regards the withdrawal of
the pending nominations, that move is essential if the Governor is to exercise
the kind of policy direction that is in the nest interests of the state and
the administration.
Finally, assuming that we are successful in coming to terms with the
Pennslyvania Governor’ s office on a strategy to follow ( Scranton’ s election
would go a long way to assuring this), the DPPA changes when combined with the
ccmipact changes we are working on with Delaware for the Delaware River Bay
Authority, this Administration will have left a substantive legacy for that
part of the State that borders on the Delaware River and Bay.
And, in the
process, we will have moved two significant revenue generating authorities
into the 20th Century.
We await your reaction.
i.w.
cc: B. Benedetti
Move to ehmrnae
whe&charbarrir
OUQyP
CCLUTc
P
The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) 1Y
is being
unreasonable in Its refusal to include an elevator for the
handicapped in the $113 million Camden Transportation
Center scheduled to open this December
The elevator would provide access to the agency’s
PATCO llighSpeed Line station being rebuilt as part of
the Broadway complex. Ills opposed by the DRPA
despite the fact it would be paid for by state funds. In the
DRPA’s opinion, the device would be “an elevator to
nowhere” since no other station on its train line provides
access to wheelchair users.
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r1h]ank fully a Superior Court judge
thinks otherwise.
• Judge Paul A. Lowengrub directed that the elevator be
installed, determining that to exclude it “builds
obsolescence into a modern structure.”
In supporting the claims of the Eastern Paralyzed
Veterans Association of New York City, Lowengrub also
noted that to exclude the construction of an elevator
would “forever bar” the disabled from using what is a
mass transit system.
A committee of DRPA com.rnissioners wants to appeal
Lowengrub’s decision. It should not.
The fact that the port authority keeps fighting the idea
• is puzzling. Under the DRPA’s line of thinking, because
there are now no elevators on the PATCO line, there
should never be any. The DRPA would rather fight than
switch; rather spend money fighting the decision than
allowing access to its train service by the handicapped.
The port authority believes there are good reasons for
its position. DRPA officials say there would be problems
concerning who would have access to the elevator and
how an elevator wOuld be manned.
• The authority also cites the lack of space on its trains
for wheelchairs and claims that handicapped people who
do not need wheelchairs already have access to the
trains through station stairs and escalators.
In essence, the DRPA argues that it has never made
accommodations for wheelchairs in any of its facilities
and sees no need to start now.
There’s no disputing the fact the IVIiglpeed Line has
• numerous barriers that prevent those who use
wheelchairs from traveling on it. Lowengrub’s decision
simply says the DRPA should not continue to erect
barriers when It builds new facilities.
The DRPA is wrong when It says the elevator would go
nowhere. It would carry the authority on the first leg of a
journey toward justice for the handicapped.
V
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V
4pn
A’1acefor PRF...A
tohanaishat...;’.:’:
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,:.
Most of us know about office politics;
Delaware River
t’ort Authority is going to teach us about the the
polit
ics of offices.. it
çwill cost us a mere $100,000 cheap at twic
e the price.
udep
lorable* conditions that auth
• Citing the
ority members must
work in, commissioner Walter Smit got spec
h
ific: “I come in here
and they have a coat rack for .16 commissione
rs, and it only ha 10
hangers. And Sen. (former state Sen. Jose
ph) Cowgill had his hat
imisappropriated. And there’s no girl’s room
for ommissfoner)
rriMary Ruth (Talley).”. :
So Mr. Smith’s committee of hicli Mrs. Taile
y, the only
.temaie commissioner, is a member went to
work
. Not satisfied
:d with simply buying a larger coat rack or even
an armoire with a
lock, they redesigned the second floor to creat
e quarters more
J fitting to their
station in life. Mrs. Talley should not have to
hüngle with the riffraff in a bathroom dow
1
‘
feet); so 1111 in an elevator shaft and build n the hail (about 55
1
her a private lavat
UI the coatr
f
1
ack is insecure and the lounge too small, com ory.
bine
1Hem into a 32-foot long sybarite’s retre
food and drink. If that means moving at and equip it to serve
the phot
be ii. After all, who should have to serve ocopier into the hail,
the public in squalor?
;’:.Another consideration in upgrading the
1
lounge-cloakroom is that
16 commissioners hopelessly divid
Jersey and Pennsylvania factions will ed into warring New
need
71cus
cau
11. So while one group occupies the main two places to
board room, the
second repairs to a separate conference
room with seating for just
eight. So the factions can plot against the
comfort, that room also will be refurbish common interest in
‘the lounge? The considerate commissioneed. Why not simply use
rs are planning a place
‘vhiere press, staff and the odd mem
ber of the public can wait
,while all the caucusing is going on.
9
.
r. The
public does not expect its servant
a factory or a slum; if the commissione to conduct its business in
,j;fcfubishing, by all means do it. But thers’ quarters need
spending spree
.ontemplated in the
1
•
does not inspire confidence
,jti the authoritys ability to manage
larger-scale projects like
,e,:thle $69-million rdecking of the Benjamin
Franklin Bridge. The
.,DRPA now plans riot only to borrow
3
between $30 million to its lull
-cost, while also raising tolls to 90 cents. That
had been planned to
uvert the need to borrow. .
‘
,..The double financing will enable the
authority to accumulate a
,Iuge war chest. To what purpose? One
Penn
,!Robert S. Ross Jr., suggests that the DRP sylvania member,
1
A become
of the pprt. A reasonable enough suggestio the lead
n, ut Mr. floss,’
who recently became DRPA vice chair
man
t,,tlie war chest to implement his plan with , appears ready to use
state legislatures that chartered the authout consultation with the
ority..
l3istate agencies like the DRPA often oper
ate without effective
oversight, simply because the legislatur
es of two states must
that action must be taken and on the
specifics. The
,.puthority’s office politics is a minor enou
gh
lfair in itself; its
opcn Irresponsibility, however, should
serve as a warning to the
‘,legislators and governors who re
ultimately responsible for
reining in what threatens to become
a
)Vhen Mr. floss Completes his coup, runaway organization.
the board room and
•..cat-in lounge, forcing the minority com
missioners to starve
their eight-seat conference room, it
will be too late. Is anybody
:paying attention now? .
now
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ittee
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:‘“
the
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He pointed out ripped seams in the.
crotch and rear and told of a toU-r with this,” said Commissioner Walter’L..Sm.ith...”l-f’tflis ‘is the mos
taker who
t
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CiTY AND REGI ON
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DaHy News cartoon by LeJ1. Udry’t
1
‘—
and security costs.
possible to ban such events in-it
thority for each event. In the’p
ast.
sonie cases,
‘lie city loan guarantees will help
permission was granted on the staff
”-’
use get bank financing for the
Ofl tthued
Talm
cm
adge
warn
ed
level
that refusing to
rest’
the. project, and also will:aflow
approve events.- for charities’
.‘,‘i- It also voted to cont
competitors in the Liberty-to-Li
inue a policy of
bertY’ othe
opletion of an application
good
r
caus
es would ‘make’ us; making event sponsors sign an
for a Thathlon raced across the spam,.
agree
million federal Urban Develop.—book inhuman and ‘-look bad
meat to hold the authority harm
in the
Next. weel California-to-At1anUcni Action Grant If approved,
newspapers.
less
us
case
the
of
injur
City
y
biice
and
racers will be crossing the
to provide
uey will be given to the city
But Perria Hamilton- a Philadel
Si 1
niiit
l
4iiOin
and
Y
Betsy...Ross Bridge:The: following
JIb insuranc
ied to Rouse at 1 percent
‘rphia lawyé
annuaI’week. the Betsy Ross close
àid,.
.”Th
eré’ is no tea-’
s for a ha1f-’ sotif
rest,
or us to suck ourñecks our,Jus
-C.
hour as 3,000 CancerBike-a-thou
t
return for its financial help
there
have been o claims
the— ers start a 60-mile pedal hi Smith j’m the
wiil get about sioo 000 in annu
past
does
n’t mean there won’t
vile, NJ
al
anyth the future
for the office and retaLis
pace
iS percent of the projects
net committee were conc
..WOiL’.The
erned aboutin-&jmmjtte
it.
,
e-vbted to hav&-a review
and vote by the full 16-member au
z
‘.--
.‘
----“
ars to pay for debt service oper
at
—
““--‘
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caught his pantleg on an- impo
rtant thing ‘on. the agenda,”l’
object.-in his toll booth; shredding
;“ might as well go
home now”,
the material from knee to cuff.
Alexander Talmadge, chairman of
Benn. talked. ar- length; ..urging
the operations and maintenance
skirts, “which can hide a multituden’
committee, said uniform desig
n
of sins.’ rather. than pants. for. fe-:’.
could best: bhaudled on ‘a lowe
r..
male toil takers. He advocated using”’
level ending the disc’iss’ion.
the authorits:iogo on all future
‘!: In.’ other. business, the auth
ority
UXiiIOi9Ils..
.‘t’”,2
also spent much time worrying abou
t
An assistant displayed a spiffy blaz--d
how much bridge traffic has
in-’
er worn by employees of New Jersey’-’
‘crea
sed
.Forg
l1-takers: .27’
et the cars and trucks’,
:
:
Transit Corp. as an example of uni-i
paying upwards of 90 cents to cross
An’ inipeccablé’dresser”himself, :t forms the
authority, should .provide’the
four bridges,, the big, jump. ineon is a high-ranking official of the
its workers:?’”’r
ti:affic. is in’ the categories of mara-’
iternanonal Ladies Garment Work
Mary Ruth Tal.ley the only female
thon runners bicyclists band hold
rs UnioIL:
on the 16-member. authority, examUsing two pairs of trousers as visu
med the old uniforms and declared,’- lag hunger, fighters, triathletes and’
walkers for a variety of causes
aids Bean said the fabric used in
This’ double-knit is really arid trnlyJ”
Just last Sunday traffic on the Ben
ieiiniform was double-knit stre
2
tch passe.”.
.—-------‘.jamin ‘Franklin Brid
,aterial.that’went’oiit-of’stYle
ge was .somesibriê’
what disrupted as scores of cycling:
orid War II endedpeeved_k rithculous tO tie iiS’TU1’
SUNIFORMS Page 15”’
For more than three years, Harry’
3enn hardly spoke a word as a memjer Of the Delaware River Port Au:
noriry.
‘J-But yesterday’the South Jersey la-,
or leader cast aside his normal reti’
ence and took the floor to deliver
n impassioned,’ often eloquent diaribe on a topic very close to his
ieart
the deplorable quality of the.
:niform trousers provided to bridge
By RON AVERY’ .;r; ‘r;
Daisy News Staff Writeri. ‘‘
Po Authori Hears Member’s Pa for Updated Un
iforms
Addréising
•
gency Dispute May Snag”
‘13y)OSEPII DONOIIUE
ftQfre,)1’reuton Bureau
TR1NTON
A dispute be
tween two state agencies is
threatening to create a new ob
stacle to the construction of the
AtlantLc City-to-Philadelphia
high-speed rail, line.
Earlier this week, the Dela
ware River Port Authority tabled
a decision to lease a 6Y2-mile
section of track it owns in Cam
den County and that would be
part of the rail link to New Jersey
Transit.
V
—
V
A Port Authority member said
his agency not only wants regular
annual payments for use of the
line but also insists on liabilit
protection, presumably throug
Insurance coverage provided by
New Jersey Transit.
But it will be hard for New
Jersey Transit to make any longterm guarantees since its budget
must be approved each year by
the state Legislature, he said.
“Certainly, Our main concern Is
to be held harmless,” the member
said Wednesday. “The other mat-
V
-
/f
tèrs can be negotiated.
“We want to be adequately as
sured that we’re not going to have
a major problem if there’s an
accident or sonlething,” he said
Wednesday.
But Tony Grazioso, New Jersey
Transit’s spokesman, said he be
ileves the disagreement Is not
insurmountable
V
“We don’t at this time think it
will snag the completion of the
Atlantic City rail line. We’re
hopeful everything will work out_;..
and that everything will stay on
V
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V
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fr A.C. Rail Line I
‘Plans
track
not to use a pun,” he
said.
• “We don’t believe it will be a
;pet’Tflanel2t snag,” he said.
• Grazioso said negotiations be
tween the two agencies already
have resulted
much progress
and should not resUlt in a major
stalemate. But he would not
predict how soon a settlement
might come.
Contacted at home Wednesday
night, Sen. William Gormley, R
Atlantic, said he was unaware of
the latest potential snag.
—
Vifl
But the Port Authority member
confirmed it, although he called
publicity about it “premature”
since it still could be ironed out in
private negotiations.
The member said New Jersey
Transit so far has offered only to
make a one-time payment of
$300,000 to the Port Authority for
use of the 6½-mile slice of track
stretching from Haddonfield to
Liridenwold.
The track, which currently is
idle, is one of three that lie along
the same right-of-way, he said.
V
The other two are used by high
speed trains operated by the Port:
Authority between Philadelphia
and Lindenwold, he said.
Although some work reportedly
began in recent weeks on some
sections of the line, it could be
delayed if negotiations between
the Port Authority and New Jer
sey Transit come to a halt. V
Passenger train service: be
tween Atlantic City and Philadel
phia was discontinued several
5
V (See TRAIN on Page là)
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TRAIN, from Page 17
ar ago because the main track
between the cities has fallen into
serious disrepair. Only occasional
trips by freight trains are allowed
on the line.
.
Alter nearly a decade of rle
hays, it appeared that. the $100
ilJion reconstruction project 11nally had been set in motion when
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-.
N.J., Rep. William Hughes, D-2nd,
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VS•V
and other officials held groundbreaking ceremonies In Atlantic
CityonJune20.
Officials expressed hopes that
Amtrak could replace an existing,
decaying track and make other
improvements In time for service
to begin In the spring of 1989.
Amtrak plans to operate five
round trips daily between Phila
delphia and Atlantic City, with six
trips on weekends and one trip
daHytO New York City.
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• Port authoritymembers
lit on..jii1jfyhigopèratiOns
.,.
•By
iidslIfb ñntlle iplre’thi
WOUld almost certainly mean that
entire program.”
most of them would be replaced In.
A split between New Jersey and
Pennsylvania Commissioner Per
Jan
Pennsylvania commissioners on
uary; election of a Republican
rin C. Hamilton, who propos
Delaware River Port Authority the
bond Issue, said the unificationed the would probably mean that some of
j
• jeopardizing a plan to unify and mar
lution was nothing more thanreso- them would be replaced.
I
“a
A $40 million bond Issue, as recom
ket port operations In the PhIlade - paper tige
r.”..
• phia-area waterfront from Tre lmen
ded
by
the
Pen
nsylvania corn
“We cannot go to the port com
nton
mu- missioners, would cost $80 millionto wilmington.
nity If we do not have the fina
ncia
l
over 25 years. Lawyers and other
The rift came yesterday at a mee
strength to back 1
up. port unlflça- professionals wou
lag of the authority’s World Tra t-. tion,” Ham
ld earn about 2 perde
ilto
n
said
.
cent of the $40 million in fees.
Committee, which has five member
The authority is committed to
s
a
The
from each state. In a 5-4 vote, the New $240 mil
lion capital development unifiedport- facilities that would be
Jersey contingent rejected a pro
are operated by the Wilmin
plan that will Improve the auth
orl- ton Port Authority, South Jersey Porgt
posal for an Immediate $40 million- ty’s four brid
ges
the Benjamin Corp. and Philadelph
t’bond Issue to meet the cos
ia Port corp.
Fra
t’.unificatlon plan over the t of the andnklin, Walt Whitman, Betsy Ross
Commodore Barry
next 10
In
ano
ther
dev
elop
ment, the an
and the
years. ‘The four Pennsylvania
corn- Lindenwold High-Speed Line ovàr thority yesterday released a draft
missiohers had voted for the plan
the next 14 years.
copy of a 20-year master plan that
and the fifth commissioner was ,
calls for a $70 million bond Issue
The New Jersey commissioners,
absent.
of whom are appointd by the gov all buy facilities from Philadelphia to
Port
erThe vote may be a preview of what nor, said a bond issue would mea
n an Corp. and South Jersey Port Corp.
wil1 happen Oct. 15, when the full 16- immediate fare Increase on
The plan would create a Delawa
the authmember authority meets to vote
re
on ority’s bridges; onJul3? 1, bridge tolls River Port Operating Co., a subsid
the matter of unification.
were increased 15 cents, to 90
lary
of
the
cents
authority, which within
¶‘ Pennsylvania com
missioners con- for cars.
five years would take over the
two
tend that the bond issue is necessary,
The New Jersey mprnbers said
port ope
for development of the unification were committed to holding the they would rations and over 10 years
assume the remaining public
plan. New Jersey members say the on tolls on the bridges unt line and priv
ate port operations, Includunification plans should be devel-. They said they foresaw a 10-c il 1990. Ing Wil
mington.
‘oped before financing can be consid- , increase at that time and anoent rate
ther 10—
The plan also calls for subsidi
ered. The panel ha no Delawa
re cent increase in 1994.
from New Jersey and Pennsylvan es
commissioners.
‘“We In New Jersey are oppose
ia.
d to
Fig
“Both New Jersey and Pennsylva. an immediate bond Issue because It the ures in the plan showed that
Por
t
of
Philadelphia has
has ben demonstrated there
nia support port unification, but
Is no
standing bond Issues of $50 mil out‘Pennsylvania commissioners wan the need for It,” Dickey said.
and a yearly Interest costs of $5 lion
t to
The Pennsylvania commission
tie it In with a bond Issue,” said
milr
ers,
lion
and collects $5.5 million in fees
William K. Dickey, chairman of the most of whom serve at the pleasure
.
Sou
th Jersey Port Corp. has $30 mUof the governor, may be lame duc
authority and a New Jersey member
ks
lion
“We don’t know what the financia . after the November election. Elec- yea in outstanding bond issues and a
riy cost In interest of $2.5 million
l tion of a Dem
ocrat to Harrisburg
and collects $3.5 million in fees
1
•
Inquirer
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nail
Wrtier
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lhk
seller.;
1’
saIespe’
bks,
AhI, st
.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1986
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS
a
I.
s
k
ö
o
C
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•.
y
h
á
N
Ô
h
T
f:
ie
h
Port C
ighting, Official Says
md by inf
Unification: Concept Being’Sty
rkets port facHitics
New Jersey coñipact in the 1950s, mfl r port operations.
ove
tion
sdic
juri
no
has
ld
worldcv but
By KEVIN HANEY.
rstate bridges and
e
The authority also manages thre inte
Daily News Staff Writer
.
ed
Lirtc
Ste
raHigh
ope
oid
inal
çnw
term
Ll,d
nt
the
nifying the various riverfro t Is a good idea,
ort orp. also oversees publicly
T
lions In the Delaware River por are making It ‘
ate terminal
,
pie”
ownedtérnilnals and there are other priv
but too many ‘fingers in the
la
Phi
the
ers.
of
an
own
irm
cha
ng board members at
difficalt, Ilenry H. Reichner Jr., ay.
Reich.ter. said dissension amo Port Corp. is delaying
deiphia Port Corp., said yesterd
the
and
ity
..
hor
tion
6oth the Port Aut
e has to be unifica
“Over the long term, ther pen,” said Reichner, who
consolidation.
hap
to
got
it’s
r,
re they’re nt worry
late
Sooner or
PhUadel
ater
“We need a Port Authority whe
Gre
the
of
nt
side
pre
or stopping one.way.
is
f
chie
ice
pol
is ai executive vice
the
lag about who
ce.
mer
Com
said.
er
er
mb
chn
Cha
o
Rei
,”
a
ges
phi
traffic on the brid
er Port AuthoiEjt..have1 “We’r worse than the Port Authority in terms of
Riv
!rR
Iowl
the
at
ials
Offic
he added, alluding to
agement of the privately
having, our fingers in the pie,”
suggested consoll ating man one public agency, and
political maneuver
ing
olv
r’
inv
es
unde
s
ersi
inal
Port Corp. controv
operated river term
y.
stud
:
ity
flicts of Interest.
ibil
con
feas
t
and
a
d
men
Ing, alleged mismanage
earlier this month launche w yesterday, said there
solidated port
con
a
Reichner also questioned how ladelphia wharves
But Reichner, in an intervie
le finannab
stio
que
Phi
s
and
the
itic
that
pol
ing
ing
not
,
lud
ded
would be fun
are obstacles, Inc
debt of $70 m1ll1oi to
d. the Port Attihority.
alone have an outstanding bond
cial backing for the Port Corpan
’s,
city
the
es
leas
businessmen have.
that
and
ncy
$80 million. Some port officials would be needed.
The Port Corp., a public age firms, Is currently $5.5
es
ate
sidi
t
priv
sub
men
to
s
ern
rve
said state gov
riverfront wha
hority, chairman and a
menta to the city and has
,WIIIIDm K Dçy. Port Aut iu nt be reached yes
million, behind In rental pay
W.
e
sinc
ve
cuti
exe
f,
proponent of port un1ficatii
been without a permanent chie
cbtfltnents
.job as president in: June.
terday for ictlob. to Reichner’
Oliver Leggelt Jr. resigned hip
ia?
lvan
nsy
Pen
a
r
iue
idJ
,J’Qr1tth.prjtx,4rM
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