New York Bridges Falling Down?
Although the MTA capital program has gotten all the press,
NY State will also have to approve a new 5-year highway
spending program this winter. While a clear picture
of financing issues facing the NY State DOT has yet
to publicly emerge, 2004 executive budget documents
indicate that present arrangements will lead by next
year to over $1 billion in state debt service payments
per year for bonds from the Local Highway Improvement
and Dedicated Highway and Bridge trust funds, with
steadily growing debt for the foreseeable future.
Goethals Twin's Next of Kin?
The Port Authority is kicking off its "Goethals
Bridge Modernization Project" environmental review
with scoping hearings on October 5th and 6th in Staten
Island and Elizabeth, NJ, respectively.
Stadium Study Flawed by Sunny Transit Numbers
Many civic groups, such as the Regional Plan Association,
the APA and the local community board have opposed New
York City’s plan to redevelop the far west side
of Midtown Manhattan with a stadium, subway extension
and office buildings, even though some of them favor
intensifying development in the area. Due to strong opposition
from these groups and others, the city is now considering
a slightly modified plan that reduces office space and
increases housing, but the stadium remain the most contested
element of the overall package.
Bronx Hears Case for Road Removal
Key figures in the removal of highways from waterfronts
in Milwaukee and San Francisco presented their experiences
last week at a symposium at the NY Botanical Garden.
The event was organized by proponents of decommissioning
the Sheridan Expressway in the South Bronx.
Rumors of Train Line Postponement Bring out Activists
On NJ Transit’s website for the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-
Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line, a banner headline
proclaims that the draft environmental impact statement
will be completed by the end of the year and hearings
held next March or April. However, proponents of the
line aren’t taking this assurance lying down.
And the Loser Is...
The Straphangers Campaign and Transportation Alternatives
announced their Pokey Awards winner for the slowest bus
route in New York City: the M34 across Manhattan’s
34th Street averages four miles per hour during rush
hour. NYC’s have been labeled the slowest urban
buses in the United States.
Intercity and Shuttle Services Lead Transit Growth in
Connecticut
Over the past few years, shuttle and intercity services
between Connecticut cities has shown increasing ridership,
even though intra-city bus ridership is declining.
