At a press conference at Hempstead Transit Center last week, advocates released a "Better Transit for Nassau County" platform aimed at candidates for Nassau County Executive and County Legislature. 
    Prior to the release, members of the fifteen groups that endorsed the platform registered bus and train riders to vote and passed out flyers describing its 5 points. Riders were urged to vote for transit-friendly politicians in order to reverse previous years' drastic cuts to Long Island Bus funding and speed capital improvements needed to expand service on the LIRR. County Executive Gulotta and Nassau's nineteen County Legislators approved 2000 and 2001 budgets that reduced the County contribution to bus operations from an annual average of at least $20 million to $7 million, despite record ridership levels. Service cuts so far have been avoided due to one-time discretionary funding provided by Nassau's state legislators and Governor Pataki. While Gulotta is not seeking re-election, many current County Legislators are. 
    The "Better Transit" Platform calls on all candidates to pledge to: 

1. Restore county funding to LI Bus, as well as add service to reduce crowding on heavily used lines and implement new routes. 

2. Press the MTA to proceed with planning for the LIRR Main Line 3rd track project during the 2000-2004 capital program. The project will allow more rush hour and east-bound "reverse commute" service. 

3. Support the promotion of mass transit and transit-friendly development strategies in the Nassau Hub Major Investment Study. 

4. Offer County workers the "TransitChek" benefit that allows them to purchase transit passes with pre-Federal tax income. 

5. Help towns confront train station parking and congestion problems by offering direction on transit-oriented development and emulate Central Islip's new neighborhood-to-station shuttle bus service. 

    Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli (D-Thomaston), who helped secure emergency funding for LI Bus last year and is seeking the Democratic nomination for County Executive, told the Campaign he supports the call for "accessible, reliable, cost-efficient methods of travel." His rival, Glen Cove Mayor Tom Suozzi, who last year signed a group letter urging restoration of county funding for LI Bus, is reviewing the platform. Republican County Executive candidate Bruce Bent, who uses mass transit to get to and from work, told the Campaign last week he supports the 5-points, but that balancing the budget is his first priority. 
    Groups endorsing the platform are: 1 in 9 Breast Cancer Coalition, Child Care Council of Nassau, Citizens Committee for Civic Action, Circulo de la Hispanidad Inc., Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, Community Advocates, League of Women Voters of Nassau County, Long Island ACORN, Long Island Neighborhood Network, Long Island Progressive Coalition, NY League of Conservation Voters, Regional Plan Association, Sierra Club, Long Island Chapter, Transport Workers Union, Local 252, and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. 

Nassau Throws Transit to Wolves - December 4, 2001

Nassau County's Transit Lobby - April 7, 2000

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