Port Authority Reforms Announcement Canceled

FORT LEE, N.J. (AP) -- It was billed as a meeting of the minds of lawmakers from two states to announce new efforts to reform the embattled Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Now, it's canceled.

John Degnan makes remarks following his nomination as new Chairman of the Port Authority April 29. (NJTV)

A Friday news conference in Fort Lee, New Jersey, was scrapped little more than an hour before it was to take place. No reason was given.

Fort Lee is where massive traffic jams occurred last fall after a Port Authority official and an aide to Gov. Chris Christie engineered lane closures near the authority's George Washington Bridge, apparently for political retribution.

The Port Authority also has come under scrutiny for its hiring practices, governance and alleged conflicts of interest.

New York and New Jersey have to pass identical legislation for it to be binding on the authority.