Pataki Wants “Significant” Chunk of Downtown Funds for Tunnel by Etta Sanders Gov. George Pataki came out in favor of building a new east river tunnel to connect the Long Island railroad and JFK airport to Lower Manhattan , at a cost of as much as $6 billion dollars. A new tunnel would have advantages over a second option under consideration, which would use an existing tunnel used by the M and R lines, Pataki said in a speech on May 5 at the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park City. “The boring of this tunnel will create the capacity to extend additional rail lines such as the Second Avenue subway and existing services such as the E train – across the East River from their end points in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn and beyond,” he said. To pay for the LIRR/JFK link, Pataki said, “significant funding” would come from the remaining $1 billion of community development block grant (CDBG) money controlled by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. Additional funding for the rail link would come from the MTA, as well as a portion of federal relief aid earmarked for transportation, Pataki said. He also called upon the Port Authority, which has already pledged $560 million, to contribute more. Use of the CDBG funds for the rail link has been supported by Downtown business leaders, but has faced some community opposition. Last month, Community Board 1 issued a resolution that listed a number of community projects that should receive priority for funding. The board has also come out in favor of the rail link, but said it should financed from other sources. “It would be a drop in the bucket for the airport project, but a terrible loss for the community projects for which we truly need it,” Councilman Alan Gerson said after the Governor’s speech. Lynn Rasic, a spokesperson for the Governor, said Pataki also endorses the allocation of some portion of the CDBG funds for the Hudson River Park Trust and to help build a new kindergarten through 8th grade Downtown school. In his speech, Pataki also announced several milestones in the rebuilding timetable. Ground breaking for the 1776-foot tall Freedom tower will take place on July 4. On May 26, the MTA will unveil the design for the new Fulton Street transit hub. Also at the end of this month, the rebuilt Con Edison substation at the base of 7 World Trade Center will be back on line. Construction of the West Street promenade will begin this September with the portion from Washington Street to West Thames Street to be completed by next year. Pataki also gave his support for new Pier 40 ball fields, and the creation of a 30,000 square foot “green roof” on Pace University for both student and public use. And he called upon the LMDC to allocate funds for a feasibility study for a “Downtown Y” to be operated by the 92nd Street Y. With the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site set to begin, along with a multitude of simultaneous Downtown construction projects, Pataki said that next month he and Mayor Michael Bloomberg will sign executive orders to create a Lower Manhattan Construction Command center to coordinate construction activities and traffic control. “We’ll take steps to ensure that, even as we rebuild, construction does not come at the expense of the community,” Pataki said. But at a meeting that evening of Community Board 1’s WTC Redevelopment committee, members expressed frustration that there has not yet been a formal commitment to having a community representative as part of that construction coordination group. The committee also discussed the need for a full-time paid position for a neighborhood resident, rather than a volunteer. “This is not a part-time job,” said Julie Menin, committee co-chair.