Current edition: Mobilizing the Region #474
September 27, 2004
New York Bridges Falling Down?
Although the MTA capital program has gotten all the press, NY State will also have to approve a new 5-year highway spending program this winter. While a clear picture of financing issues facing the NY State DOT has yet to publicly emerge, 2004 executive budget documents indicate that present arrangements will lead by next year to over $1 billion in state debt service payments per year for bonds from the Local Highway Improvement and Dedicated Highway and Bridge trust funds, with steadily growing debt for the foreseeable future.
The Port Authority is kicking off its "Goethals Bridge Modernization Project" environmental review with scoping hearings on October 5th and 6th in Staten Island and Elizabeth, NJ, respectively.
Stadium Study Flawed by Sunny Transit Numbers
Many civic groups, such as the Regional Plan Association, the APA and the local community board have opposed New York City’s plan to redevelop the far west side of Midtown Manhattan with a stadium, subway extension and office buildings, even though some of them favor intensifying development in the area. Due to strong opposition from these groups and others, the city is now considering a slightly modified plan that reduces office space and increases housing, but the stadium remain the most contested element of the overall package.
Bronx Hears Case for Road Removal
Key figures in the removal of highways from waterfronts in Milwaukee and San Francisco presented their experiences last week at a symposium at the NY Botanical Garden. The event was organized by proponents of decommissioning the Sheridan Expressway in the South Bronx.
Rumors of Train Line Postponement Bring out Activists
On NJ Transit’s website for the proposed Monmouth-Ocean- Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line, a banner headline proclaims that the draft environmental impact statement will be completed by the end of the year and hearings held next March or April. However, proponents of the line aren’t taking this assurance lying down.
The Straphangers Campaign and Transportation Alternatives announced their Pokey Awards winner for the slowest bus route in New York City: the M34 across Manhattan’s 34th Street averages four miles per hour during rush hour. NYC’s have been labeled the slowest urban buses in the United States.
Intercity and Shuttle Services Lead Transit Growth in Connecticut
Over the past few years, shuttle and intercity services between Connecticut cities has shown increasing ridership, even though intra-city bus ridership is declining.
| 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 #474 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 473-September 20, 2004
MTR 472-September 14, 2004
MTR 471-September 8, 2004
MTR 470-August 17, 2004
