Press Release

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $54 Million in Federal Sandy Aid for Port Authority of NY & NJ

Jun 12, 2013

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today the Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey $54,243,826 million in federal funding for infrastructure repairs in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Federal funds will go towards Sandy-related emergency preparation and response, including replacement and repair of mechanical and electrical equipment, structural and architectural rehabilitation, and emergency operating costs. Damage from Superstorm Sandy has cost the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey $2 billion in repairs to return the agency’s airports, rail system, bridges and tunnels to service. 

“Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on New York City’s mass transit systems and the World Trade Center’s emergency response crews heroically worked around the clock to make sure these systems were repaired,” said Schumer. “These federal funds for repairing and restoring New York City’s infrastructure will mean that the burden of recovering from Sandy is not put on the local commuter and taxpayer.”

“The devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy to our city’s mass transit and infrastructure is unprecedented,” said Gillibrand. “This critical funding is an important step to help New York recover and rebuild. I will continue to work with my colleagues and localities to ensure that New York has infrastructure in place to rebuild better and weather future natural disasters.”

The World Trade Center’s (WTC) emergency response to Superstorm Sandy consisted of preparation for the storm and recovery during and after the storm. Emergency protective measures were performed to minimize the impact of extreme weather and prepare for the reestablishment of service. During and immediately following Superstorm Sandy, WTC crews and contractors worked to reestablish PATH Service from WTC side and reestablish construction of the WTC Transportation Hub. The activities funded include protective measures for the construction site, facilities and infrastructure; operating costs for emergency operations, including the re-establishment of services, immediate and permanent repairs that include labor costs and materials.