House Approves NY-Jersey Transit Agency

Washington – An agency formed by New York and New Jersey to deal with bi-state commuting problems won unanimous House approval yesterday.

The easy passage of the measure in the House indicated that the Senate will give a quick nod to the agency, which is part of a five-point bi-state program to halt the financial decline of commuter railroad and bus lines.

The program, while not expected to trim Long Island Rail Road taxes that were stabilized in 1954, would help the railroad buy new cars. The plan would also ease the tax burden of bus lines operating on Long Island.

The new unit, the New York-New Jersey Transportation Agency, is to study immediate and long-range plans to improve commuting across the Hudson River. Agency recommendations for solving commuting and other transportation problems in the New York Metropolitan area would be due by June 31, 1961. The agency afterwards would be charged with putting its recommendations into effect after getting legislative approval.

The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Peter W. Rodino (D–N.J.), would grant congressional approval for the bi-state compact. It would also guarantee the federal government’s right to regulate interstate commerce in the New York area by allowing congressional committees to require full information on the agency’s operations.

Other facets of the bi-state program for solving commuting problems would (1) permit the Port of New York Authority to purchase $20,000,000 worth of new cars on a state loan to be leased by the railroads; (2) grant tax relief to any railroads and bus lines; (3) allow the State (N.Y.) Public Service Commission to cut the size of some train crews, and (4) set up a state-aid program to cover half the tax loss suffered by local communities.