Transportation Infrastructure in the Tri-State

Adequate funding has enabled the tri-state to develop some of the most robust transportation infrastructure in the nation, but more funding is necessary for the region’s economic prosperity.

Published March 1, 2001

By Veronica Hendrickson, Allison L. C. de Cerreño, Ph.D., and Susan U. Raymond, Ph.D
Academy Contributors

Rail Infrastructure in the Region

TREND: A Shrinking Asset…

The region’s freight system is home to a whopping 5,119 miles of operated track which transported over 111 million tons of freight in 1999. Nevertheless, while miles of track operated in the nation have declined by 1.6% (and increased by 13.6% in Massachusetts!), the region has lost 3.4% since 1996.

UPSHOT: …But Growing Need

Nationally, coal accounts for 42% of rail tonnage. In the region, the picture is more diverse, with mixed commercial freight, nonmetallic minerals, chemicals, and food products accounting for over half the region’s tonnage. While freight tonnage has increased by only .86% nationally, the region is well ahead at 4.0%; nevertheless this is still a smaller percent increase than Massachusetts’ 9.3% growth. Connecticut is doing much better than the rest of the region. It increased its miles of operating track by 8.2%, with a corresponding 4.9% increase in freight tonnage transported.

Jobs and Pay

TREND: A Declining Workforce…

Railroads provide 24,888 Tri-State residents with jobs, a decline of 7.9% since 1996. New Jersey led the way with its 13.6% decrease. Other states have seen smaller decreases (5.6% in California, for example) and some have even seen increases, like Massachusetts at 7.4%.

UPSHOT: …While Wages Rise and Fall

Rail wages in the region totaled about $1.36 billion in 1999. That was down from 1998’s high of $1.48 billion, but still represents a 3.8% increase since 1996. Connecticut’s wages have increased 10.2%, but are still behind Massachusetts, both in terms of actual dollar and percent increases (20.7%).

Ah, the Commute

TREND: Alive and Well on the 7:16…

The region’s commuter rail system comprises 1,645 miles of track and carries nearly 200 million passengers per year. The Long Island Rail Road holds the dubious distinction of being the busiest commuter railroad in the nation.

UPSHOT: …And It Costs a Pretty Penny

Maintaining and improving rail systems is expensive. MTA’s MetroNorth capital program for 2000-2004 totals $1.3 billion, over half of which is dedicated to rolling stock and track improvements.

Maintaining Transportation Infrastructure

“It’s gonna take money, a whole lotta spendin’ money.” George Harrison was right, even though the subject is rolling stock, not true love. Maintaining and improving the capital infrastructure of the Tri-State region’s transportation system takes money, lots of it. The highway capital programs of the region’s three transportation departments totaled just over $4 billion in 1999.

For New Jersey, the capital budget constituted one-third of its total DOT expenditures; for Connecticut, road capital improvement is 58% of the DOT’s combined balance sheet. With 200,000 customer trips per day, the MTA has even bigger plans: a $14.4 billion capital program lasting through 2004. Of that, $10 billion is reserved for New York City Transit, including nearly $4 billion for subway cars and stations.

Also read: The Economic Importance of Transportation Infrastructure

Sources

• Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York Departments of Transportation; Association of American Railroads, Policy and Communications Department, State Specific Railroad Data, “Railroads and States,” 1996-1999; Annual Reports of the Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and Metro-North.
• Construction and state highway expenditures budgets of the Departments of Transportation of NY, NJ, and CT; 2000-2004 Capital Improvement Program of MTA Metro-North Railroad.