Pittsburgh PA - The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on Pennsylvania State Senator Jane Orie's (R) attempt to control the costs for Port Authority of Allegheny County's (PAT) rather useless North Shore Connector subway extension.
Orie introduced a non-binding resolution stating that the State will not pay any more than the already increased amount of $72 million for the project.
While I applaud the effort, her non-binding resolution is just that, non-binding. It means absolutely nothing when all is said and done. If Senator Orie is as concerned about PAT's financial situation as she claims, she would have pushed for a binding resolution that had teeth behind it.
This useless project has already gone over budget once and the work has barely started on it. Once started and the tunnel is being bored under the Allegheny River, you simply can't abandon it easily. PAT will cry the blues again for the State to pony up the additional money and the State legislature will whine for a bit but give them the money.
PAT is well known for wasting money. Anyone even remotely familiar with PAT knows that this project will go way over budget. PAT won't be happy with a utilitarian design for the project and will demand the full over-designed treatment that does nothing but cost money.
Orie's non-binding resolution does nothing to stop the State from bailing PAT out yet again for their excessive spending habits. Orie's words sound tough but to use an old cliche, it's all bark and no bite.
While I'd love to give Pennsylvania State Senator Jane Orie (R) a Laurel for her effort, the simple fact that her resolution has no teeth behind it to prevent any more State money from being pumped into the worthless project earns her a Lance. Next time Senator, put more than just empty words behind such an attempt to slap PAT down for their bad planning and spending habits.
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