The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has proposed a 2020 budget totaling $7 billion that is larger than the budgets of five states. What will the region’s commuters and travelers get for the higher tolls and fares they’re starting to pay?

The budget is being proposed less than two months after the agency approved increased tolls, fares and fees in September and expanded a 10-year-capital plan by $4.8 billion. The proposed 2020 budget will be voted on by the Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners on Dec. 7.

The proposed budget starts to put some of those big projects in motion, including replacing the aging AirTrain monorail to Newark Airport and eventual replacement of two of its three terminals. It funds some of the PATH projects included in an improvement plan announced earlier this year and continues a multi-year program to restore key components of the George Washington Bridge.

While it is advertised as a $5.8 billion budget, it breaks down to $3.4 billion to operate the Port Authority and its facilities and $3.6 billion for capital projects, according to documents. The proposed budget is funded by $5.8 billion in revenues and $1.7 billion in bonds.

What’s driving the budget are record numbers of passengers at the airports, on PATH, driving through the authority’s bridges and tunnels and amounts of cargo being shipped through the ports. Many projects improve and expand facilities to accommodate that growth.

2 1/2 hr layover in Newark Airport.... 2 1/2 hours longer than I ever wanted to spend in Newark NJ.... Although there is quite an impressive food court... pic.twitter.com/TYRdODtCO0 — Mark (@SoxFan2414) November 12, 2019

Airports

It should be no surprise that the highest spending, $2.07 billion, is proposed for major projects at the metro area’s three major airports with a new terminal under construction at Newark and two terminals in the works at LaGuardia. Preliminary work to replace terminal B at Newark also would be funded.

The spending plan also would fund the planning and design of redevelopment projects at JFK and rehabilitating a runway at Teterboro Airport. Also in the wings is replacing the AirTrain to Newark Airport and building a new AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport.

Bridges and tunnels

The budget has $738 million for upgrades to authority tunnel and bridge crossings, including implementing all-electronic cashless tolling at the three Hudson River crossings. It also funds replacing suspender rope and cables on the George Washington Bridge, and continues key components of the $2 billion “Restoring the George” Program.

It also continues the construction of “Lincoln Tunnel Access” New Jersey DOT projects, including ongoing rehabilitation of the Pulaski Skyway, building a new Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge and work on Route 1&9 north truck route. Those funds were originally earmarked for the canceled ARC tunnel project and reallocated by former Gov. Chris Christie.

PATH

A total of $389 million would be spent on PATH projects to lengthen stations and platforms to accommodate longer, 9-car trains on the Newark-World Trade Center line. It is part of a three-year $1 billion improvement plan unveiled last June. Ongoing signal replacement program and Hurricane Sandy tunnel rehabilitation work also are funded. The budget funds planning for the proposed PATH extension to Newark Liberty Airport.

PATH trains starting back up again here at 33rd after an hour long delay pic.twitter.com/s9lCpfJxk8 — Mike Smeltz (@mikesmeltz) June 27, 2019

World Trade Center

As the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 approaches, the rebuilding project is coming to a close. The budget has $246 million to complete the build-out of the WTC site, including improvements at One World Trade Center, continuing construction of the Bathtub Vehicular Access project and, completing infrastructure under the Performing Arts Center and the World Trade Center Transportation hub.

Bus Terminal and bus lane

Another $28 million is allocated for planning and designing a new Port Authority Bus Terminal, in addition to environmental, preliminary engineering and program management work to replace the mid-town Manhattan bus terminal. Three options are being considered.

While not the biggest expenditure, $4.8 million is in the budget would develop and test autonomous vehicle technology to increase capacity of the Xclusive Bus Lane to the Lincoln Tunnel. Using “connected buses” that communicate with each other has been suggested as a way to increase capacity and answer bus commuter complaints about frequent delays in the bus lane to New York.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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