Current edition: Mobilizing the Region #407, March 17, 2003
Transit labor leaders and advocates for bus and subway riders warn that the $2 city transit fare approved recently by the MTA may not last beyond 2004. They argue that escalating MTA debt service costs, spending on system expansion projects and a new labor contract will all come due in 2005, heavily pressuring transit finances.
MTA, Employers Could Ease Fare Woes
The TransitChek program could save commuters hundreds of dollars a year, but so far, it has not been used to its potential. TransitChek officials told the Daily News this week that only 500,000 employees, less than 10% of those that use MTA facilities daily, are able to take advantage of the TransitChek program. The program is a rare gift from the federal government to transit-rich New York.
Huge Jump in NJ Pedestrian Deaths
Statistics provided to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign by the New Jersey Dept. of Law and Public Safety show a 26 percent increase in New Jersey pedestrian fatalities from 2001 to 2002.
Transportation Alternatives released a report this week that documented what most people know — that car alarms are far better at annoying and keeping awake NYC residents than they are in preventing car thefts. The study suggests affordable, effective alternatives to car alarms, such as brake locks and personal pager car alarms.
The executive budget issued by Governor Rowland during the first week of March proposes 25% bus fare increases and a 20% commuter rail fare hike. The governor proposes to raise the rail fares on October 1 this year, and bus fares on January 1, 2004.
Ferries a Cheaper Route for Downtown
The report issued last week by Schaller Consulting on Lower Manhattan transportation improvements questioned the downtown business community’s fixation with building a new LIRR link.
Sheridan Project Begins New Phase
With Environmental Impact Statement scoping hearings for the Sheridan Expressway set to begin, it’s do or die time for the New York State Dept. of Transportation to agree to study an alternate, community-generated plan for the highway and surrounding neighborhood.
Authority Adopts Better Bike/Ped Rule
Hudson Valley bike advocates report that the NY State Bridge Authority has changed its policy of banning cyclists and pedestrians from its cross-Hudson bridges...
NJDOT Finds Interchange Would Generate Additional Traffic
In Bedminster, NJ, a "Citizens Group Against the Ramps" won a victory last week when NJDOT decided to forego its plan to build an interchange between interstates 287 and 78 and Route 202-206. Rather than construct the $50 million interchange, NJDOT has decided to implement local improvements around existing exits to relieve congestion in the area.
| Each week, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign publishes Mobilizing the Region, or MTR. MTR is a bulletin on New Jersey, New York and Connecticut transportation news and opinion from the perspective of advocacy for sustainable transportation. | |
| MTR #407 portable document format (PDF) file (requires Adobe Acrobat).
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Recent editions:
MTR 406 - March 10, 2003
MTR 405 - March 3, 2003
MTR 404 - February 24, 2003
MTR 403 - February 18, 2003
