Current edition: Mobilizing the Region #490
February 14, 2005
Rell's Budget Heavy on Transportation, But Not Sprawl
Improving the state’s lagging transportation system was a focus of Governor Rell’s budget proposal last week. Outlining an ambitious transportation plan, she said "We have talked about transportation long enough. It is time to deliver for the passengers and drivers of Connecticut."
NY Coalition: "Fund Highways and Transit!"
Last week, the Empire State Transportation Alliance (ESTA), a coalition of business, transportation, labor, and environmental groups, joined former MTA and DOT commissioners in Grand Central to urge state leaders to fully fund the MTA’s 2005-2009 capital program and provide adequate funding for road and highway projects.
NJ Transit Fare Hike Hearings Begin
Don’t miss your chance to tell elected officials to stop hiking fares on NJ Transit riders, and start finding a source of dedicated funds that NJ Transit can count on every year.
Support Grows for Higher NJ Gas Tax
"Increase New Jersey’s gas tax," was the consensus in New Jersey last week. At an Alliance for Action forum focused on refueling the Transportation Trust Fund, which will zero out in 2006, Assemblyman John Wisniewski, Assembly Transportation Committee Chair, the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association, and AAA New Jersey expressed support.
Bush Budget Provides Funds for NYC Projects
The Bush Administration released its $2.57 trillion 2006 Budget last week. The budget slashes a range of domestic programs from home heating assistance to Medicaid to student loans. But surface transportation programs make out fairly well, with the Federal Highway Administration enjoying a 2.9 percent increase over estimated 2005 levels, and the Federal Transit Administration budget also potentially growing.
Transit Benefit for Nassau Employees
Nassau County is looking for a company to run its Commuter Benefits Program. The program, known as TransitChek for NYC employees, allows employees to purchase transit passes with pre-tax income, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars year.
Patrick M. Gillespie, the deputy director of the NJ Senate Democrats, will serve as state’s next smart-growth ombudsman, the Governor’s office announced last Tuesday.
| 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 #490 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 489-February 7, 2005
MTR 488-January 31, 2005
MTR 487-January 24, 2005
MTR 486-January 18, 2005
