Another Philly corruption scandal unfolding

[cpzilliacus]

TOLLROADSnews: Another Philly corruption scandal unfolding - DRPA federal grand jury investigation

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Paul Nussbaum reports this morning that there's a major federal investigation of crimes allegedly committed in the name of "economic development" involving the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) the bistate agency that operates the four major toll bridges linking Philadelphia with the south Jersey suburbs on the east bank of the Delaware River. It also operates a big lossmaking rail transit line to south Jersey and has lost money on an array of socalled economic development projects and social and civic sponsorhips.

The Inquirer reports that Zane Meminger the US Attorney for Philadelphia and the east of the state recently served a subpoena on DRPA to preserve records needed for a criminal investigation. DRPA chief executive John Matheussen confirms the receipt of the subpoena and a DRPA spokesman is saying the agency will "cooperate fully." A memo was sent to all employees in recent days ordering them not to destroy any records relating to "economic development" projects supported by the authority.

[Flyer78]

Will be interesting to see what comes out of it.

Also gotta love the dig at mass transit found in this, and many other TRN articles.

[PHLBOS]

Further down the web-linked article:

"Over the last two decades, DRPA has engaged in a massive economic development campaign with money it did not have, and funded this campaign through a pattern of borrowing that was imprudent and detrimental to its financial standing. This course of borrowing also violated the terms and spirit of DRPA's charter, which called for spending on economic development projects only with 'funds available after appropriate allocation for maintenance of bridge and other capital facilities.'

"Moreover, DRPA failed to follow its own policies and procedures in administering its economic development program.

Why am I not surprised?  Had the above-economic development spending BS not happened, maybe motorists wouldn't be currently shelling out $5 (when leaving NJ) to pay for the current bridge & PATCO related operations & projects.

BTW, your thread title's a tad misleading in terms the use of the word Philly; not all the PA side of DRPA things are Philly (think Commodore Barry Bridge in Chester).  I would've titled the thread DRPA corruption scandal unfolding.

[Brandon]

What are they trying to do, complete with Chicago?

[jeffandnicole]

Nah.  Competing with the PANYNJ.  Much closer to Philly, and in comparison to their tolls, the DRPA tries to say their tolls are much lower.

[Alps]

Nah.  Competing with the PANYNJ.  Much closer to Philly, and in comparison to their tolls, the DRPA tries to say their tolls are much lower.

Rather than say your tolls are lower than another agency's, say that your tolls are the minimum needed to maintain your bridges. (c.f. DRJTBC)

[PHLBOS]

Editorial from today's Philadelphia Inquirer on the matter.

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20130410_Inquirer_Editorial__Someone_should_answer_for_DRPA_s_spending.html

Opening Excerpt:

For 15 years ending in 2011, the Delaware River Port Authority squandered nearly half a billion dollars on projects wholly unrelated to the bridges and rail line it was created to run. It did so even as it struggled to balance its budget and deferred necessary spending on its PATCO line and four Philadelphia-New Jersey bridges. It effectively borrowed every dollar it misspent, contributing significantly to its massive debt, as well as a 25 percent toll hike as the free-for-all wound down.

Those still funding the follies with every five bucks they fork over to cross the Ben Franklin should welcome The Inquirer's report that a federal grand jury is investigating this disastrous experiment in so-called economic development. The probe could bring about some overdue consequences for the agency's misadventures.