Tri-State Transportation Campaign, in partnership with United States Senator Chuck Schumer, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, the Town of Babylon, Vision Long Island, the Melville Chamber of Commerce, the Long Island Rail Road Commuters Council, and others will be hosting a symposium on bus rapid transit (BRT) on October 5.

The event, Building Regional Ties: Bolstering Long Island’s Economy and Mobility Through Bus Rapid Transit, is being organized in response to a potential BRT system and transit-oriented development plan along Route 110, from Babylon to Huntington. Bus rapid transit projects are being implemented in communities around the country to provide high quality transit at low cost.  By using dedicated bus lanes, signal prioritization, off-board fare collection, and other features, BRT provides an affordable way to speed bus commutes quickly.  It has also been used successfully as a catalyst, as in Hartford, CT to generate economic development.

During the event, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone will provide a brief overview of his Connect Long Island plan, while the keynote speaker, Annie Weinstock, United States BRT Program Director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, will give an overview of successful BRT systems across the country.  The event will also feature a panel of experts with presentations about BRT systems throughout the tri-state region.

The symposium will take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on October 5, 2012 in the Media Room of Suffolk County’s H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, in Hauppauge, New York. Registration begins at 8:30am. The event is free of charge. Light breakfast will be provided.

To register for the forum, send an email to rlynch@tstc.org. Space is limited so register now.