Current edition: Mobilizing the Region #469
August 9, 2004
NYC editorial boards rightly pinned the problems of transit financing in New York on Albany in the aftermath of the release of the MTA’s draft 2005 budget and 2005-2009 capital program. The 2005 budget spelled out an ominous menu of fare increases and service cuts and warned that things could get even worse in 2006. The capital program laid out the projects needed to improve the existing system and build major new capacity projects, but fulfilling it will require about $3 billion per year in new resources.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board will likely hold hearings this fall for a 2005 budget that includes fare increases and service cuts that would take effect early in 2005. The agency released its 2005 preliminary hearing at its board meeting Thursday.
Port Authority, Thruway Move to Speed Tolls
The region saw still more high-speed tolling developments (as well as low-speed announcements by the MTA) this past week.
MTA Fare Plan Would Curb Express Buses
Staten Islanders reacted strongly to the highest percentage fare increase identified last week among likely "gap closing" actions the MTA will take to balance its 2005 budget. The 50% hike in the NYC Transit express bus fare, from $4 to $6 one-way, coming after last year’s $1 (33%) hike would mean a doubling of express bus fares in two years.
NJ Clears Traffic Calming Roadblocks
Legislation that makes it easier for municipalities to build speed humps on dangerous streets without a lengthy approval process from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) was signed into law by Governor McGreevey in July. The legislation also requires the DOT to design statewide standards for speed hump construction.
According to Transportation Alternatives, the NYC DOT has released its first-ever comprehensive before-and-after analysis of bicycle lane efficacy.
| 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 #469 printable format (PDF) file (requires Adobe Acrobat).
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GO TO INDEX of past issues of MTR, since Fall 1994.ll M
Recent editions:
MTR 468- August 2, 2004
MTR 467- July 26, 2004
MTR 466- July 19, 2004
MTR 465- July 6, 2004
