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A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, setting forth County policy regarding cost overruns on the North Shore Connector project.
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WHEREAS, principles of sound fiscal management mitigate against undertaking large public works projects with uncertain budgets; and
WHEREAS, cost overruns for tunnel projects are historically unpredictable and potentially very large, such as in Boston's “Big Dig” project, for which the original budget was $2.5 billion when the project began in 1998, yet for which the final budget was $14.6 billion when it was finally completed in 2003; and
WHEREAS, County Council has, for this and other reasons, previously expressed its opposition to the North Shore Connector tunnel in unequivocal terms, and the Port Authority of Allegheny County has chosen to ignore this clearly expressed guidance; and
WHEREAS, the Port Authority has not yet provided Council with specific information on additional funding sources and amounts for this project, if any; and
WHEREAS, the Port Authority indicated to Council on the record that the County's historical financial burden for capital improvement projects of this type has not exceeded three and one third percent of the project cost; and
WHEREAS, the Port Authority is also on record as indicating to Council that the total cost of the North Shore Connector tunnel project would not exceed $390 million; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation currently estimates the total budget for this project to be $381 million;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
SECTION 1.
County Council hereby expresses its intent to oppose the use of any County funds for any costs associated with the North Shore Connector project that exceed three and one third percent of the total initial project estimated budget of $390 million, and urges the Chief Executive to oppose County funding for any such cost overrun...
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