Current edition: Mobilizing the Region #505
July 15, 2005
Transit Security-The Twain Should Meet
MTA Chair Peter Kalikow says the rules around federal transit security aid prevent him from spending it on “operations” costs like overtime pay to boost police presence in the transit system, even though that is probably one of the more effective and immediate ways to make the region’s huge mass transit network safer from attack.
NJ Struggles with Transportation Finance
When questioned by reporters after the release of a report by transportation groups, New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jon Corzine said Monday he didn’t think an increase in the state gas tax was a good way to raise money for transportation needs. Republican candidate Douglas Forrester also distanced himself from a gas tax hike.
Albany Releases Transit and Road Programs
Albany’s approval of the MTA and NY State DOT 2005-2009 capital programs this week finally clears the way for campaigning around the $2.9 billion transportation bond issue that will be on NY State voters’ ballots this November.
Congressman Rangel Urges NYC to Call Off Harlem River Flyover
Last month (MTR 500) we reported on an emerging NYC DOT plan for an elevated highway structure in East Harlem stretching from 126th to 131st Streets.
CT Acts to Close Transport Deficit
Governor Jodi Rell signed a 10-year, $1.3 billion transportation spending initiative in the first week of July.
ConnDOT has developed an initial plan for commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield, MA.
NJ Transit Gaining on MTA Railroads
NJ Transit saw striking growth in commuter rail patronage during 2004, outpacing its two fellow regional rail systems, the MTA’s Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.
In a new report, Driven to Spend: Pumping Dollars out of Households and Communities, the Surface Transportation Policy Project and the Center for Neighborhood Technology found that American households are paying a great deal for transportation, and in areas where there are fewer transportation options, the costs are higher.
Oceans of Parking-a Tragedy of the Commons
The matter of parking is largely taken for granted, until you’re circling the block looking for that elusive space. Even for many transportation professionals and urban planners, parking tends to be little more than an afterthought. But a major new treatise by UCLA professor Donald Shoup makes a strong case for more attention to parking. Shoup determines that in the United States, off-street parking consumes an area roughly the size of Connecticut.
Amtrak Funding in Limbo-as-Usual
The U.S. House has rejected appropriations legislation that would have halved Amtrak’s budget, a cut Amtrak president David Gunn says would drive the passenger railroad out of business. Instead, the House transportation appropriations bill gives Amtrak $1.2 billion for the next federal fiscal year – essentially holding its budget steady from this year’s level.
| 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 #505 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 504-June 24, 2005
MTR 503-June 14, 2005
MTR 502-June 8, 2005
MTR 501-May 31, 2005
