NEW YORK, NY September 06, 2005 —Almost four years to the day of the 9-11 attacks, the Port Authority broke ground on a new transit hub at the World Trade Center site.

HENNELLY: At the old World Trade Center, commuters had go through a hard to find series of tunnels to get from the PATH trains to the subway or ferries. When the new transit hub is built all connections will be integrated. 90 percent of the project cost is being picked up by the Federal government. US Transportation Secretary Normna Minetta

MINETTA: "Getting people back into lower Manhattan has been one of out top goals and we have provided almost two billion dolars toward the majestic new World Trade center Transportation hub."

HENNELLY: The winged glass & steel structure -- designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava -- should be completed by 2009. Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony said it would be the equivalant of a Grand Central Station for lower Manhattan. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.