An official at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told the agency's commissioners Thursday that the price of the train and subway station has climbed to $3.44 billion.
Construction director Steven Plate says soaring steel arches designed for the building by architect Santiago Calatrava will cost $221 million, about twice as much as estimated.
Plate says designers had to add extra steel to protect against terrorist attacks. Shipping costs also rose after planners decided to use a foreign contractor that had experience with Calatrava's designs.
Plate says the Port Authority will have to dip into a contingency fund to complete the building.
