MTA Inspector General: Gone
Fishing?
For now, no one can make head or tail out of the charges
and counter-charges about corruption and cover-up between
the MTA’s security director and the MTA Inspector
General. What the public can do is look up www.mtaig.state.ny.us
to see what the Inspector General has been up to lately.
Worst Case Scenario for Bus Deal?
News last week that New York City and the MTA had agreed
to reach an agreement at the end of June about transferring
the city’s franchise bus fleet to the MTA left
the main question unanswered.
NYC Extends Strong HOV Policy
New York City and State DOTs recently opened the last
2.1 miles of the Long Island Expressway as an HOV lane
leading to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.
NJ Takes Stock of Pedestrian Safety
In response to news stories about skyrocketing New Jersey
pedestrian fatality numbers, state transportation commissioner
Jack Lettiere said he would like to find a way to devote
more resources to pedestrian safety.
I-95 Widening Plan is Back
This week and next, ConnDOT is holding public scoping
hearings for an environmental review of its revived plan
to convert 12 miles of the I-95 shoulder into rush hour
travel lanes. The added lanes would stretch from Exit
8 in Stamford to Exit 18 in Westport. Like most highway
widening plans, it will not produce sustainable congestion
relief...
Walking Here? Americans Want To
A national poll released last week by the Surface Transportation
Policy Project (STPP) found support among Americans for
measures to make walking more possible, safer and pleasant.
Land of Cars
Last weekend, Newsday looked at changes on Long Island
over the last quarter century, comparing today with statistics
from a 1978 report it published entitled, "Long
Island at the Crossroads."
Tougher Truck Route Laws Find Support in NYC City Council
Last Thursday, the New York City Council held a hearing
on proposed legislation to help keep truckers off of
local streets. The legislation would require truck drivers
to have colored truck route maps and an itinerary that
displays the correct routes to their respective destinations.
Project Billed as Fix for Jams Draws Traffic
Less than four years after NJDOT spent $125 million to
rebuild the notorious Routes 4 and 17 interchange, several "big
box" developments and huge parking lots are rising
in the project’s shadow.
Transit Debates a Fact of Staten Island Life
Staten Island occupies a transportation policy cross-roads
within our region. It is part of New York City, but has
been integrated into the metro area more by road than
by rail. It is the fastest-growing (in population) county
in NY State, and suffers from chronic, worsening traffic
congestion. It also has a suburban self-identity that
will render smart policies, like building the density
needed to support more intensive mass transit, difficult
to implement. We present a brief overview of a few of
Staten Island’s current issues...
