From left: WTC site, developer Larry Silverstein
The dispute between World Trade Center site developer Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority is shaping up to be a costly one for taxpayers. The Port Authority’s board has decided to pay 14 consultants to create a contingency plan for the site, in case Silverstein’s two buildings, in which key operations for the new PATH terminal are supposed to be housed, never actually materialize there. The $20 million plans are intended to avoid the delays and potential cost increases that might arise in the event that Silverstein withdraws and the Port Authority needs to start the PATH Transportation Hub project over from scratch. [NYDN]