Cool Reception for MTA Tax Plan
MTA Chair Peter Kalikow took a bold and critical step
last week when he identified revenue sources to pay
for the MTA’s proposed 2005-2009 capital plan.
His proposal included raising a variety of fuel,
real estate and business taxes that already help
pay for MTA capital and operating costs. The measures
are predicted to raise $850 million annually if approved
by the governor and legislature.
Doomsday at SEPTA: Crystal Ball for NY?
Philadelphia’s mass transit system is at the edge
of the fiscal cliff, with huge fare hikes and service
cuts on the table. The crisis has prompted Pennsylvania
officials to seek permission from the federal government
to divert part of the state’s federal highway aid
to the transit system as a stop-gap measure.
Come Fight the Fare Increases!
Join the Tri-State Campaign, Straphangers Campaign, TWU
Local 100, Transportation Alternatives and others to
rally against the 2005 fare hike plan the MTA board will
bring to a vote on Thursday.
Call for More Convenient Brooklyn Subways
Councilmembers John Liu and David Yassky joined the Tri-State
Campaign last week to call for free street-level MetroCard
transfers between Downtown Brooklyn subway stations serving
different, non-connecting lines.
Officials Rail Against Hudson Yards Plan
Opponents of Mayor Bloomberg’s West Side stadium
plan argued last week that the development rights above
the MTA’s Hudson Rail Yards, west of Penn Station,
should be valued at $1 billion.
On Track to the Future?
The 70 elected leaders, railroad officials, port operators,
state and county transportation officials, planners and
advocates attending a Tri-State Campaign symposium in
Trenton last week agreed that an extensive public education
campaign will be needed if an expanded railroad system
is to help reduce the explosive growth of truck traffic
in New Jersey.
More Money Needed for Long Island Traffic Calming
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign, elected officials
and Vision Long Island celebrated the first project completed
under NY State DOT’s "Local Safe Streets
and Traffic Calming" program last week at the Barstow
Roundabout in Great Neck.
Pedestrian Safety Legislation Moves in NJ
Pending legislation in New Jersey indicates that the
state may soon put more rules to protect pedestrians
into place. A measure to allow towns greater leeway to
install traffic calming devices was signed into law in
July (MTR # 469).
