The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s proposed $45 billion capital plan is bold, ambitious and absolutely necessary. It’s exactly the kind of long-term investment our region has always depended on to stay competitive, create jobs and improve lives for millions of people.
The Port Authority’s proposal would transform Newark Liberty Airport with a new Terminal B, continue construction of a new, state-of-the-art Newark AirTrain, replace critical structures such as the Lincoln Tunnel Helix and the Outerbridge Crossing, rebuild the century-old Midtown Bus station, improve PATH service with more trains and new infrastructure, advance repairs at the George Washington Bridge, strengthen the seaport and more.
Every one of those projects solves a real problem. Every one of those projects will matter to actual people in ways they can see and feel. You want to get to work faster? You want more-reliable flights? You want safer bridges and direct PATH service on weekends for the first time in 25 years? You want the freight supply chain that keeps our economic engine running to stay competitive? All of that is in this plan.
The scale is unprecedented: 50,000 jobs supported across the region, including more than 33,000 union construction jobs. Those aren’t just numbers. They’re paychecks that support families, health benefits that keep people insured, apprenticeships that open doors and careers that build generational wealth. This capital plan is as much a workforce plan as it is a transportation blueprint.
We’ve already seen what happens when this region commits to smart, sustained investment. In the past 10 years, the Port Authority has led a remarkable transformation. LaGuardia has been recognized as a global award-winner. Newark’s Terminal A is now one of the best-rated terminals in the country. New tunnels, bridges and rail systems have moved from drawings on a wall to real steel, concrete and track. PATH signal upgrades, new railcars, station improvements and resiliency work are delivering a stronger transit backbone than we’ve seen in generations.
These weren’t cosmetic projects. They changed our region. They proved that when we invest, we get better service, stronger safety, more reliability and a more attractive climate for business and tourism.
The new capital plan builds on that momentum. It closes the loop on projects generations in the making, strengthens assets that must last another century and makes smart investments in technology, safety, resiliency and capacity. It positions our airports to compete globally, our seaport to lead the East Coast and our transportation network to handle the growth that’s already on the way.
If we want to secure the future of this region, we can’t stand still. Growth doesn’t wait. Demand doesn’t wait. Wear and tear doesn’t wait. The right question isn’t whether we can afford to plan. It’s how quickly we can put the right projects in motion to keep people and commerce moving.
Infrastructure is often invisible when it’s working and unforgettable when it’s not. This capital plan keeps us on the right side of that equation. It’s a statement that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey intends to lead, not follow, when it comes to world-class transportation.
The Port Authority is now opening its plan to the public so people can learn more about the projects and the funding tools that will support them. Here’s the case I’d make to every commuter, resident and elected leader: This isn’t just a spending plan. It’s a foundation. It’s a forward-looking investment that keeps our economy strong, keeps our workforce employed, keeps our airports competitive, keeps our seaport thriving and keeps our transportation network reliable for the millions who depend on it every day.
This is the moment to build, and this plan gives us the tools to do it.
Jerry Keenan is president of the New Jersey Alliance for Action and host of the Under Construction with Jerry Keenan podcast.
