Daily News from New York, New York • 82

Stockman's scheme could affect Westway Carter administration reviewed the "essential gaps" By HARRISON RAINIE replace existing bus and rail systems, Stockman argued. This would clearly help New York, which operates by far the most extensive network of mass transit in the country. "The emphasis should be on older systems," the budget book argued. ON THE HIGHWAY SIDE, Stockman has adopted the proposal of Reagan's transition team that only "essential gaps" in the interstate highway system be completed. The rest of the uncompleted sections would be taken off the drawing board.

Westway is one of the small "gaps" in the system despite its mammoth $1.6 billion price tag. When the in the system, Westway was included. And Reagan, made a campaign commitment to finish the controversial project However, it is not clear whether there is enough cash in Stockman's plan to fund Westway and the other unfinished parts, which are vital to open up out-of-the-way regions. Westway critics cannot take much hope from Stockman's plan' because it calls for a major cut in the amount of cash that is available for mass transit trade-ins. Westway critics have urged that the city and state trade in the Westway money and use it for rehabilitating mass transit STOCKMAN HAS CALLED for quick trims in the highway system so that localities cannot take advantage of the trade-in option.

Westway has run into its own kind of troubles even without considering the new budget policies likely to emerge from the Reagan administration. State officials fear now that lengthy delays will beset the state request for a dredging permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. Regional officials in the corps have. given the permit their approval but several other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the fisheries division of the Interior Department and the National Marine and Fisheries Service have all objected to the dredge permit on environmental grounds. One other transportation item in the Stockman plan is important to New Yorkers.

He has urged that Amtrak passengers pay for at least half the cost of the rides they take. New York Amtrak routes are among the most heavily subsidized in the nation, and the budget office has calculated that fares would have to go up by a whopping 45 to meet the Stockman revenue guideline. Washington (News Bureau) President Reagan's budget office has proposed an overhaul of the nation's transportation programs that would probably hurt New York's mass transit and highway programs, but not as much as those in other parts of the country. It also would chart an uncertain course for Westway. Reagan's budget director, David Stockman, has distributed 150-page black looseleaf notebooks outlining his "hit list" of budget cuts, including reductions in the nation's highway program and spending for mass transit capital projects.

Highway spending would be cut $400 million next year and between $1.9 billion and $2 billion annually through 1985. Mass transit capital spending would be cut between $448 million and $1.6 billion annually In the next four years, according to the Stockman plan. THERE IS NO INDICATION yet what the budget office hopes to do about mass transit operating, subsidies an item targeted for deep cuts by several Reagan transition officials. "I think they have been pretty sympathetic to my arguments that there is more efficiency in operating subsidies than letting existing transit systems suffer badly," said Rep. Bill Green "We're not out of the woods, but I'm not as pessimistic as I was before." Even more important than the budget numbers, though, are the policy positions that Stockman has outlined in his proposed spending plan.

In mass transit spending, the documents argue' that no new rail systems be built Those that are under construction ought to be evaluated, the document contended, and only those systems that are nearly complete and will yield "short-term benefits in excess of short-term costs' should be given more money. The remaining funds should go to rehabilitate and Koch sees threat to Portman project Mayor Koch said yesterday that without a federal grant program which may be eliminated by the Reagan administration the plans for the $261 million Portman Hotel in Times Square "will go under." Koch said he "did not believe" that the hotel "could be built at this time or within a reasonable future" without a $22.5 million Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG). Koch and other mayors were told at a White House luncheon last week that the action-grant program was likely to be eliminated. Koch said yesterday that he thought Reagan administration officials "were now reconsidering their position" because of the mayors' concern. "I believe UDAGs will stay," he said.

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