Will Albany Decamp Without Transit
Plan?
The NY state legislature adjourned today without the
state’s MTA Capital Program Review Board acting
to approve the transit umbrella organization’s
2005-2009 capital program. While the legislature’s
adjournment does not preclude action by the board this
summer, it may make it more difficult to convene its
members. The review board is a four-party panel
made up of representatives of the governor, NYC mayor,
state senate and state assembly.
NJ Transportation: Out of Money, Period
New Jersey’s transportation establishment has its
work cut out for it if a recent Asbury Park Press editorial
is at all reflective of public thinking about the state
of transportation finance in the state.
Smarter Fare System at PATH
Its been over five years since the Port Authority and MTA announced plans to
integrate their card system, but such a system is now close to reality.
Drive Me Out to the Ball Game
The new Yankee Stadium will provide fewer seats — dropping from just under
57,000 in the existing stadium to 51,800-54,000 — but nearly twice as much
parking as the current set up, up to 11,000 total spaces. The plan obviously
sets up a more car-dependent and suburban-focused facility overall (the seats-to-parking
space ratio will change significantly from 9.5 to around 5).
Fighting Transit in Nassau County
Prospects for a third track along the LIRR Main Line were met with vociferous
opposition by officials and residents of the village of Floral Park in Nassau
County.
T-Z Bridge: Two Dimensional Gridlock
As safety conditions on the Tappan Zee worsen, the environmental review of replacement
options for the bridge remains stalled.
Transportation Conference Committee Faces Host of Issues
The Congressional conference committee to develop a transportation funding law
to succeed 1998’s TEA-21 is now at work, nearly two years after TEA-21
formally expired (a series of continuing resolutions have kept federal aid flowing
to states and transit systems).
Whitestone Not Big-Rigged
Immediately following the start of major deck replacement on the Whitestone Bridge,
the MTA announced it would begin to enforce restrictions prohibiting trucks over
80,000 pounds from crossing the span.
