Ambitious MTA Capital Program
Would Rebuild and Expand NY's Transit System
While attention to MTA budget matters last week focused
heavily on pending fare increases, the MTA released an
ambitious five-year capital budget which, if fully funded
by Governor Pataki and the state legislature, would make
major strides toward linking the Long Island Railroad
to Grand Central Terminal and building the Second Avenue
Subway without sacrificing the ongoing rehabilitation
of NYC's vast mass transit system.
MTA 2005 Budget: More for Less -
Straphangers: "The
George E. Pataki Fare Hike"
The MTA 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.
Express Tolls Proliferate
High-speed toll collection continues to develop. The
region saw several developments in recent weeks.
Thinking Outside the Big Box
At the NYC City Planning Commission's public hearing
on the proposed Red Hook IKEA last week, the Tri-State
Transportation Campaign emphasized that the company must
offset the traffic impacts of locating on a relatively
car-dependent site.
A 21st Century DOT?
NY State Transportation Commissioner Joseph Boardman's
panel on transportation policy came downstate last week,
holding hearings in Suffolk County and Manhattan.
L.I. Freight Rail Yard Takes Key Step
The environmental review process for the Long Island
Truck-Rail Intermodal Facility (LI TRIM) in Suffolk County
finally got started this month with the first public
scoping meeting.
