The task force will reportedly review local, state and federal agency programs and actions to develop its recommendations, which are due in one year.

According to a release from the Governor's office, "The Quality Communities Task Force will focus on redeveloping urban centers and older suburbs, preserving open space and agricultural and forest lands, protecting water and air resources and restoring and protecting New York's waterfront areas in existing communities."

The NY State Transportation Commissioner will serve on the Task Force.

In his State of the State speech earlier this month, the Governor announced several smart growth programs, including a "Main Street" initiative designed to breathe new economic life into smaller urban centers. The program would provide tax incentives for employers who create downtown based jobs and for developers who buy and restore city brownfields to productivity.

In that vein, a good candidate for early review by the Quality Communities task force would be declining state operating aid to transit systems in smaller cities and suburban counties. We will of course monitor and report on the task force's ideas about the relationship of sprawl development and highway capacity.