To make good, the new leadership should join concerned citizens to oppose NJ DOT's Millstone Bypass, a 2.3 mile, four-lane elevate highway that would run through West Windsor. The Department is preparing an environmental impact statement for the proposal (MTR #294). Besides damaging wetlands, the new highway is expected to draw 35% more traffic to the corridor.

Hoboken  - Councilman David Roberts defeated Mayor Anthony Russo's bid for a third term in a campaign also based in part on runaway development and traffic. Hoboken's construction boom under Russo combined with increasing regional use of the city's transit links to NYC have led to record traffic and parking demand. Mayor Russo made an effort to address these problems in April by restricting rush-hour roadway access - an edict the County prosecutor found unconstitutional (MTR #312). Roberts told the NY Times that he plans to begin the process of rewriting Hoboken's master plan for more controlled growth, perhaps pushing most parking to city's outskirts.

Nassau County - The Nassau Democratic establishment has thrown its weight behind Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli last week in the race for county executive. With State Senator Dean Skelos, DiNapoli has secured state funding twice to stave off bad Long Island Bus service reductions threatened by county budget cuts.

Outgoing County Executive Thomas Gulotta and the County Legislature slashed Nassau's contribution to Long Island Bus from $20 million in 1999 to just $7 million in 2001. In the 2003 budget submitted to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority last year, no county funds are set aside for the transit agency (MTR #296).

DiNapoli still faces a primary challenge from Glen Cove mayor Tom Suozzi. Hopefully, his record and his prominence in the race will lead to a more pro-transit stance by county leaders.