Rockefeller: Port Authority Gave 'Zero Evidence' Of Legitimate Traffic Study

[highplainsdem]

Source: Talking Points Memo


Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) issued a statement on Thursday announcing that he had received a response from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to his questions about the George Washington Bridge lane closures. According to Rockefeller, that response contained "zero evidence" that the lanes were closed as a result of a legitimate traffic study.

“The letter explains the careful planning and communication that should happen before interstate bridge lanes are closed for a traffic study or any other non-emergency purpose," Rockefeller said. "The Port Authority officials who ordered the September 9-13 George Washington Bridge lane closures did not follow their agency’s own procedures. The Port Authority’s response provides zero evidence that the purpose of these closures was to conduct a legitimate traffic study."

Port Authority officials have previously maintained that the lanes were closed for a traffic study, an assertion that Gov. Chris Christie (R) refused to dismiss at a press conference last week. Democrats in New Jersey have argued that the lanes were closed in retaliation against the mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., a Democrat who declined to endorse Christie's re-election last year. The closures caused a massive traffic jam in Fort Lee.

Rockefeller sent a letter to Port Authority officials on December 16, before the release last week of thousands of pages of documents connected to the incident.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rockefeller-port-authority-evidence

[AtheistCrusader]

1. OF COURSE

[DURHAM D]

2. So what, if any, is the punishment?

[dbackjon]

3. Of course theere was no legit reason

[George II]

4. This has also been reported on the Bergen Record website, the site/organization that......

.....blew this whole thing open in the first place.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Senator_No_evidence_of_a_legitimate_traffic_study_in_GWB_scandal_by_Port_Authority.html

A Port Authority response to a Senate committee's inquiry about lane closures on the George Washington Bridge contains "zero evidence" of a legitimate traffic study, the committee's chairman said today. AP Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Sen. John 'Jay' Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

"The Port Authority’s response provides zero evidence that the purpose of these closures was to conduct a legitimate traffic study," said Sen. John "Jay" Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

The Port Authority had issued a statement saying three toll lanes leading to the bridge from Fort Lee local streets were cut down to one in September because of a traffic safety study, but emails from Governor Christie's aides and appointees later revealed it may have been driven by politics instead.

Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee sent a letter in December asking a series of detailed questions about the lane closure after hearings in the New Jersey Assembly featured testimony from employees.