Agencies Try Hand at Coordination
An initiative to plan and coordinate transportation services and improvements is underway on Staten Island. Begun by NYC Transportation Commissioner Elliot Sander, who would apparently like to develop an overall plan in each city borough, the project has developed a master list of over 40 island transportation projects or programs. Some, like new bikeways, ferries to Brooklyn and midtown, and EZ Pass facilities on the Verrazano Bridge are already underway. Other projects include revitalization of the North Shore Railroad and re-planning bus routes to aid neighborhoods underserved by transit. Exactly what new collaboration between agencies like NYC DOT, NYS DOT, Port Authority and MTA is envisioned is so far unclear, though officials discussed coordination of data and transportation modeling at a June meeting. Citizens at the meeting wanted to talk about more prosaic matters like lack of sidewalks, too many trucks and growing local traffic. Tom Jost, transportation advisor to the Borough President, said bridge toll reduction for business traffic ought to be a high priority. Joseph Carroll, district manager of Community Board 1, urged that traffic reduction be the overall focus of the plan. "We have a problem and we're making it," he said. Staten Island Advance, Daily News
