1991 - Governor Mario Cuomo had the Port Authority transfer $1 million to the Urban Development Corporation for a Preliminary Study for Relocating the Miller Highway. Philip Habib Associates were awarded the contract.
This despite the fact that contract # D253577 - (for rehabilitating the Miller Highway ) had been awarded by the NYS Department of Transportation, and work had begun.
Move to Relocate the Miller Highway Was Political Not Issue of Safety
Governor Mario Cuomo's “1991 New York, New York Building New York City’s Fiscal and Economic Future”, stated:
“ ....The opitimal development of the current plan [Riverside South] hinges on the relocation of the elevated portion of the Miller Highway on Manhattan's West Side where the privately-funded development will be integrated into the city's public superstructure.q
....One important way the state can help the city and the private developers expedite this project is to assist in developing the inland roadway.
. ...In order to implement this pivotal portion of the development, the New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will use its expertise and funding, to be made available from the Port Authority's Regional Development Bank, to initiate the planning feasibility and environmental assessment studies for the relocated highway. The cost of this effort will likely be $1 million.”
$1 million went from the Port Authority to UDC in 1992 to initiate the planning feasibility and environmental assessment studies for relocating the highway.