My point is that it would have massively increased the property values of all lots within approximately an 800 - 1000 foot walk of all three train stations that serve Hackensack. This would have shifted the property tax burden away from the single-family house residential taxpayer (unless you happen to live in that radius). Plus the resulting development of upscale units would have further shifted the tax base. This tax burden shift would take place slowly, over the course of decades. ANd the redevelopment of the city's oldest neighborhoods would have been a god-send to the quality of life, the crime rates, and every other statistical measure known to man.
Whether or not the tunnel would have gone over budget is an unknown. And whether or not the over-budget costs would have been assumed by the Federal Government or the State is also unknown. In all liklihood, it would have gone over budget to some degree. That's the nature of these projects, and the fact that it happened in Boston was ALREADY FACTORED into this tunnel budget projection.
Governor Christie, in his bid to convince the public that he is the budget savior of NJ, has the incentive to inflate the projected over-run. That is the politically expedient thing to do given his public policy decision. I take everything these politicians do with a grain of salt.
Christie has a lot of balls, supposedly. But if he REALLY had balls, he'd go after the Police Unions with the same intensity as the Teacher's Unions.