Schedule for MTA Fare Hike,
Service Cuts Come Into View
Transit advocates slammed the MTA on Monday for announcing
there would be only one public hearing in New York City
in November on the agency’s plans to cut transit
service and raise fares and tolls for NYC MetroCard users,
express bus and commuter rail riders and bridge and tunnel
motorists. Hearing would also take place in the Hudson
Valley and on Long Island.
Bad Idea's Time Has Passed
Although work to relieve congestion at Garden State Parkway
toll plazas is well advanced, the notion of abolishing
tolls altogether is dying a slow death. New Jersey’s
anti-toll zealots are kvetching about the latest improvements
on the Garden State Parkway.
NYSDOT Support for Innovative Planning Weak
An NYU Rudin Transportation Center and Institute for
Civil Infrastructure Systems forum last week on joining
land use and transportation planning focused on a set
of "sustainable development strategy" projects
established by the staff of the NY Metropolitan Transportation
Council.
The Riders and the Rebirth of City Transit
The Straphangers Campaign is marking its 25th years with
an exhibit recounting transit rider advocacy campaigns
since the 1970s at the Municipal Art Society in Manhattan.
RPA Looks Downtown
The Regional Plan Association released a report recently
on the progress of Lower Manhattan’s redevelopment.
JFK-Lower Manhattan Ferry?
The Port Authority has issued a request for proposals
for ferry service between Lower Manhattan and JFK airport.
Proposals are due in November, though it is not clear
when the PA hopes to initiate service.
New Rail Lines Doing Well
New Jersey Transit opened a new segment of its Hudson-Bergen
light rail system, extending the line north from Hoboken
station into Weehawken. Three new stations were opened
— two on Hoboken’s west side and one on the Weehawken
waterfront. The extension is 1.6 miles in length. Work
on a further section north from Weehawken continues —
it will allow the line to reach Union City, West New
York and North Bergen.
Declaring Fiscal Stability, Suozzi Hikes Bus Budget
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi released his budget
for 2005 last Monday, with funding to Long Island Bus
proposed at $10.5 million. Suozzi said he was doubling
the county’s bus contribution, though the doubling
is more in line with what he proposed last year than
in what the bus agency in fact received.
Protecting Young Pedestrians
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT)
recently announced that 100 schools will open with brand
new sidewalks this year. The new program
was developed by NYC Transportation Commissioner Iris
Weinshal to repair and add sidewalks to schools.
