New Jersey Transit Fare Increase
Will Leave the Big Problems Unsolved
Before New Jersey Transit implements any plan to raise
bus and rail fares, the state legislature and Governor
Codey should pledge to increase the state’s annual
appropriation for NJ Transit’s operating budget.
2005 NY Fare Hike Not Necessary
Transit advocates are calling on the MTA to use the unanticipated
$330 million revenue windfall the agency recently announced
to stop a fare hike in 2005. But the agency says it wants
to save most of the money to apply to its looming 2006
budget gap, especially if the revenue picture worsens
again.
Transport for NYC 2012-the Atlanta Plan?
Where many cities’ Olympic bids feature permanent
improvements that will be of general use once the two-week
series of events has come and gone, the NYC 2012 plan
has nothing in it for the New York region’s transportation
system.
MetroCard Mike Weighs In
Michael Bloomberg’s appearance at recent MTA fare
hike hearings was a rare one for a NYC mayor. It showed
the seriousness of the problem, and the impact it could
have on the mayor’s public standing as the city
gears up for city-wide elections in 2005. Although the
governor holds more sway over the MTA, public ire over
unpopular transit policy decisions is often focused on
the mayor.
Several Suitors for Sinking Ferry System
Although NY Waterway has said that the 60-day layoff
warnings it recently handed out to its workers were just
a "legal requirement," not a clear indication
the region’s largest ferry outfit is going under,
everyone else watching the situation seems to think the
company is done.
New Steps Toward Car-Free Central Park
New York City announced this weekend that it would close
four roadway entrances to Central Park and further restrict
the hours when cars are allowed to use the park’s
loop drive.
Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Study Commences
A public meeting for the "Downtown Brooklyn Transportation
Blueprint," a new NYC DOT planning effort meant
to determine transportation needs for the next 20 years,
will be December 6th at Brooklyn Borough Hall. It’s
good news the agency is beginning a dialogue on how the
area will deal with what many project to be a big development
boom during that time frame.
Suffolk Road Projects Give Way to Smart Growth
A "smart growth summit" organized last week
by Vision Long Island brought to light several cases
where bad road projects have given way to impressive
village development and forward-thinking transportation.
