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Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye explains changes in the agency's $32 billion revised capital plan to commissioners before they voted on it on Thursday. (Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The Port Authority unanimously approved a $32 billion capital plan Thursday after hours of public hearings over several months, more than 400 emailed comments, and last-minute arguments over funding a PATH extension to Newark Airport and building a rail line to LaGuardia Airport.

The spending plan includes $3.5 billion toward a new Port Authority Bus Terminal, a project which had been omitted from the original plan. Officials hope to have a new bus terminal built by 2029 or 2030.

"This is what we've been fighting for," said State Senator Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, who spearheaded a campaign to improve the existing terminal and plan for its replacement after hearing commuter complaints about conditions there.

"This plan is far from perfect, it is a political compromise, it is not the plan that would be drawn up by transportation experts, it is just the beginning," said State Senator Robert Gordon, D-Bergen.

But residents who live next to the bus terminal expressed their own concerns about its replacement.

"We already know that without the use of eminent domain, such a building won't satisfy the demand and other means of transit must be studied," said Christine Berthet, a member of Community Board 4 transportation committee. "Before bids are issued Community Board 4 and New York and New Jersey stakeholders should review them and comment."

Among the more controversial spending approved in the plan was $1.7 billion to extend the PATH rail system to Newark Airport and $1.5 billion to build an AirTrain rail line between LaGuardia Airport and a subway line at Willet's Point.



The plan also commits $2.7 billion to pay debt from the Gateway Project which will build two new Hudson River rail tunnels and follow with other improvements on the Northeast Corridor line. An environmental study for the tunnels is currently underway.

The vote ended a sometimes contentious debate since officials first announced a do-over of the plan last May to include projects which were not funded in the original capital plan. It was finally introduced last month.

Authority officials rebuffed a last minute request from New York officials including Mayor Bill DiBlasio and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who asked for a longer, more comprehensive "tiered" environmental study before work begins on a new bus terminal. Port Authority officials said that would add $1 billion to the projected $7.5 billion to $10 billion terminal cost.

"I would argue against a tiered environmental study in any project," said Patrick Foye, Port Authority executive director. "It's a longer process and delays increase the cost and delay the deliver to the consumers."

Authority officials plan to meet with New York's Deputy Mayor to talk about the study, said John Degnan, board chairman.

"I hope it (a tiered study) can be avoided by telling them the things we are doing and the things we are going to do," he said.

New Jersey lawmakers criticized what Assemblyman and gubernatorial candidate John Wisniewski called an "eleventh hour" attempt by New York officials to delay the bus terminal.

"The bus terminal is inadequate, and telling commuters to wait is unfair," he said.

Richard Hughes, co-founder of the New York based Twin Towers alliance questioned Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resistance to the bus terminal.

"I don't know what Cuomo is thinking that the bus terminal is a New Jersey project," Hughes said. "I'm glad they are coming to New York to work and I'm glad they're spending money here. They ought to come in to a good place."



Bicyclists and pedestrians were successful in their efforts to get minor changes to walkways which will be rehabilitated on the George Washington Bridge. The changes mean cyclists will not have to dismount when they travel around the bridge's towers.

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