NEW YORK, NY (AP).- New York City has stepped into the long-delayed planning for a performing arts center at ground zero with over $40 million to help build its below-ground foundation.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's board approved a deal Tuesday that would have the city pay it back for the construction at the World Trade Center site.

Authority spokesman Steve Coleman says some work on the foundation and shared infrastructure is in progress, but other parts of the project have not yet been contracted out.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's spokesman Andrew Brent says the city expects to pay for the work with funds from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. rebuilding agency.

The arts center was part of the original master plan for ground zero, but there has never been a budget or a timetable for its construction.


Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.