The string of service disruptions demonstrates that the New York State Senate must quickly adopt the MTA’s Capital Program proposal, which would fill the MTA Capital [...]]]> The Long Island Rail Road has been plagued by switch problems, signal issues, and track breaks over the past few months, which has caused headaches for commuters and businesses.

The string of service disruptions demonstrates that the New York State Senate must quickly adopt the MTA’s Capital Program proposal, which would fill the MTA Capital Program’s remaining $7 billion deficit. In addition to financing high-profile expansions like East Side Access, the Capital Program keeps the LIRR in a state of good repair. It pays for things like track work and signal maintenance, which are vital to the system’s continued, reliable operation.

Transit advocates have been in Albany urging adoption of the Capital Program and the passage of Governor Cuomo’s budget, which provides $770 million to the MTA’s Capital Program and compensates the MTA for the $310 million it lost in last year’s payroll mobility tax deal.

As County Executive Steve Bellone settles into his new post in Suffolk, there’s reason to hope that he’ll usher in an era of sustainable transportation and land use.

During his time as Supervisor of the Town of Babylon, Bellone adopted Long Island’s first complete streets policy, pursued transit-oriented development [...]]]>

Steve Bellone. photo: stevebellone.com

As County Executive Steve Bellone settles into his new post in Suffolk, there’s reason to hope that he’ll usher in an era of sustainable transportation and land use.

During his time as Supervisor of the Town of Babylon, Bellone adopted Long Island’s first complete streets policy, pursued transit-oriented development in Wyandanch, secured resources to promote traffic-calming projects, and, along with Republican State Senator Charles Fuschillo, spearheaded the study of bus rapid transit (BRT) on Route 110.

TSTC urges County Executive Bellone to continue his commitment to transit and smart growth in his new role. Here’s a list of priorities for the new leader of Suffolk County:

• Support Suffolk County Transit: Almost 22,500 people ride Suffolk County Transit every day, and fares are set to rise by 33% this spring. While it’s hard to argue against the first fare hike in two decades, the sudden increase would place undue hardship on riders who make, on average, $20,000 less than those that drive to work alone. To ease the burden, Bellone should work with the Legislature to phase in the fare hike over three years. He should also work with elected officials in Albany to ensure adequate funding for the county’s bus system.
• Promote the MTA’s construction program: The future of Suffolk County’s transit system depends on the funds that pay for track work, station rehabilitation, new rail cars, and more. If the capital program is not funded, the double tracking of the Ronkonkoma line and future service levels could be at risk.
• Adopt a county complete streets policy: Suffolk County has some of the region’s most dangerous roads for walkers and cyclists. According to a TSTC analysis, 94 pedestrians were killed in Suffolk County from 2007-2009. A Newsday analysis found that 43 cyclists have been killed there since 2005. Many of these fatalities occur on county roads that aren’t subject to New York’s recent complete streets law, since they are not funded with state or federal dollars. To close this loophole, Bellone must build upon his success in Babylon and pass a Suffolk County complete streets law in 2012.
• Keep supporting smart growth: smart growth projects have been popping up all over Long Island, and Bellone should encourage the trend. The new County Executive should build on his work in Babylon and move Suffolk towards a more transit-oriented future.

Last week, the Connecticut Department of Transportation provided a friendly holiday reminder to transit riders that the first of three scheduled 4% fare increases will take effect on January 1, 2012. The fare increase really is a gift that keeps on giving—it will be the first of three consecutive 4% [...]]]>

Photo: Mira Hartford

Last week, the Connecticut Department of Transportation provided a friendly holiday reminder to transit riders that the first of three scheduled 4% fare increases will take effect on January 1, 2012. The fare increase really is a gift that keeps on giving—it will be the first of three consecutive 4% fare hikes in the coming years. Happy holidays, Connecticut transit riders!

Transit will get some good news this holiday season, though: ConnDOT commissioner James Redeker has put train and bus schedules onto Google Transit. Currently, seven of the state’s eight transit districts have uploaded their schedules, with the lone outstanding district, Waterbury, primed to join the fun by the end of January.

The tie-in to Google Transit will clearly benefit CTTransit passengers, and it may also help draw new riders into the system. Often, people that have access to transit simply don’t use it because they don’t know how the trains and buses work (or when they’re coming). By making its system more user-friendly, ConnDOT stands to increase customer satisfaction and ridership.

Late Monday night, the Nassau County Legislature unanimously adopted an amended version of a contract with Veolia Transportation.

While the new contract still cedes much power to Veolia, the amendments and a new memorandum of understanding do guarantee that there will be no fare increases in 2012, no cuts to Able-Ride [...]]]>

Photo: Kriston Lewis

Late Monday night, the Nassau County Legislature unanimously adopted an amended version of a contract with Veolia Transportation.

While the new contract still cedes much power to Veolia, the amendments and a new memorandum of understanding do guarantee that there will be no fare increases in 2012, no cuts to Able-Ride service for three years, and no fare increases or service cuts without a pair of public hearings before the newly-formed Transit Advisory Committee. Any cuts or fare increases must go through a 45-day waiting period prior to implementation. By more clearly outlining the powers of the Transit Advisory Committee, the amendments protect the TAC from being weakened by the County Executive, and the changed contract requires that the County Executive and legislature agree on changes to the TAC’s purview.

These amendments, offered by the Democratic caucus, came after a heated public hearing and an announcement that Veolia’s European parent company is divesting from the transportation business. In an effort to reassure riders, Veolia representatives and Nassau’s Chief Deputy County Executive Rob Walker reminded the public that Nassau County can opt out of the contract at any time, so long as they give 90 days notice. There was no discussion of what would happen after a potential opt-out.

Though turnout for the final hearing was light—possibly because the vote was moved up a week from its original December 19^th scheduling—speakers were unanimously opposed to the adoption of the contract.  While the contract’s passage marks an end to the first phase of this privatization process, comments by speakers indicated that bus transit advocacy in Nassau County is just getting underway. Immediately after testifying, Charlene Obernauer, Executive Director of Long Island Jobs With Justice, announced the formation of a NICE Bus Riders’ Union, which will seek to protect riders from future fare hikes and service cuts.

In addition, Pat Bowden, President of Transport Workers Union Local 252, indicated that, while the deal between Nassau County and Veolia is done, the union has yet to reach an agreement with the company. This could pose a problem for Veolia, who is scheduled to take over on January 1^st. Ms. Bowden pointed out that the privatization contract means that Nassau County’s transit workers are no longer bound by the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employee strikes.

Newsday is covering the labor negotiations here.

On Monday, the Nassau County Legislature’s Rules Committee voted 4-3 to support a much-maligned bus contract between Nassau County and Veolia Transportation.  The contract now will be the subject of a public hearing next Monday, December 5, at 1:00 pm at the Nassau County Legislature.

According to [...]]]>

(Click to download the report.)

On Monday, the Nassau County Legislature’s Rules Committee voted 4-3 to support a much-maligned bus contract between Nassau County and Veolia Transportation.  The contract now will be the subject of a public hearing next Monday, December 5, at 1:00 pm at the Nassau County Legislature.

According to the public notice and comments by Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt, a vote on the contract by the full legislature could take place as soon as the hearing is closed, which would prohibit the County from making any improvements to the contract or answer any of the numerous questions that have been raised about the contract. And there’s no need to rush, as the MTA recently said it could operate service into next year.

A recently released report by TSTC, Long Island Federation of Labor and Long Island Jobs With Justice raised additional questions about the contract, among them:

• Why does Veolia have ultimate authority to decide service levels in Nassau, when in other contracts the local government or transit authority dictate service levels?
• How will riders be protected from quarterly fare increases and service cuts if revenues come in under projections?
• How will taxpayers be protected from increased subsidy demands?
• Why is Nassau County assuming joint responsibility for future 13 (c) labor obligations?
• Why are there no representatives from the bus riding public or labor on the Transit Advisory Committee?

All of these questions, and more, need to be answered and addressed if the Nassau County Legislature is going to best protect bus riders, workers, businesses and taxpayers.  Luckily, elected officials have time.  The MTA has recently indicated that it would be willing to continue to operate LI Bus service into next year as a ‘Plan B’ if Nassau County requests it to do so and paid for the service.  This offer allows Nassau County Legislators to thoroughly vet the bus contract and to amend it to better protect their constituents.  Let’s hope that they do so.

Apparently 13 is a lucky number for Central Connecticut transit riders and businesses. That’s because after 13 years, Connecticut and the Federal Transit Administration have finally signed off on a Full Funding Grant Agreement for the Hartford-New Britain [...]]]>

Governor Malloy and FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff at the signing agreement on Monday. (Photo: Scott Vargas/FoxCT)

Apparently 13 is a lucky number for Central Connecticut transit riders and businesses. That’s because after 13 years, Connecticut and the Federal Transit Administration have finally signed off on a Full Funding Grant Agreement for the Hartford-New Britain Bus Rapid Transit, scheduled to begin operations in 2014.  The agreement, signed Monday at Central Connecticut State University, will allocate $275 million in federal New Starts funding, and sets the stage for construction to begin in March 2012.  All told, the Federal Government will finance 80% of the $567 million project. Initial bids for construction contracts have come in approximately 23% under previous estimates.

Buses to and from Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol, the UConn Health Center in Farmington would also take advantage of the busway. (Click to view larger version on ConnDOT's website.)

TSTC has advocated for the project for over a decade and urged Gov. Malloy to endorse it earlier this year.

The project will eventually employ 4,000 people, see ridership of 16,000 a day, have headways of between 3-6 minutes and reduce congestion along I-84. Monday’s signing is a triumph for Governor Malloy, who has pushed hard to complete the state’s long-standing transit projects. The New Haven-Springfield Rail Line is also close to construction-ready.

Advocates are eager for the busway to attract new housing and offices, and help the state reduce future sprawl development. Connecticut recently targeted its initial round of transit-oriented development planning grants to several municipalities along the corridor.

Today, the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council released its list of “transformative” projects that it will seek funding for as part of the statewide competitive process created by Gov. Cuomo. Its 13 picks show that the Long Island council understood the opportunities that [...]]]>

A rendering of the Wyandanch Rising project in Babylon, NY.

Today, the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council released its list of “transformative” projects that it will seek funding for as part of the statewide competitive process created by Gov. Cuomo. Its 13 picks show that the Long Island council understood the opportunities that investment in smart transportation and land use decisions present for economic growth and job creation.

If Long Island and state policymakers look closely at the efforts of one particular municipality, the Town of Babylon, and its ability to leverage funding from various sources, they could find a template for sustainable economic and environmental growth on Long Island and the potential to solve that age-old question of how to keep young people on Long Island.

Babylon has long looked to develop more sustainably around the Wyandanch train station, a station at the heart of one of the most economically challenged areas on Long Island.  Almost a decade ago, the Town announced its ‘Wyandanch Rising’ initiative, which aims to create a walkable downtown that includes retail, commercial and residential development.

Babylon was one of the eight initial recipients of Tri-State’s and the One Region Funder’s Group’s Transit Centered Development Community Assistance grants in 2009 and it has subsequently been putting the necessary infrastructure pieces into place to support TOD efforts.  Last year Babylon applied for, and received, $485,000 from the New York State Department of Transportation’s Local Safe Streets and Traffic Calming Grant Program to redesign Straight Path Road.  Straight Path Road runs through downtown Wyandanch and abuts the train station, and the Town hopes to remake it into a pedestrian friendly street that will create a walkable environment necessary to support TOD, and serve as Wyandanch’s new main street.  Late last year the state’s Environmental Facilities Corporation allocated close to $15 million in low-interest financing for sewer infrastructure, and the federal government provided an additional $2 million in Transportation, Community and System Preservation funding in August to establish bus pick-up and drop-off locations as well as bike storage adjacent to the train station.

These types of investments not only transform land use and transportation in the area, but also serve as a catalyst for job creation.  According to the US Conference of Mayors, sewer infrastructure generates $6.35 in private sector economic activity for every dollar invested, while a recent UMass-Amherst Political Economy Research Institute study has shown that investments in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure creates more jobs than any other road investment.  As a result, the project is expected to create 1,700 jobs in construction, retail, technical and professional services during Phase 1 alone.

The Council also selected other smart projects like the Ronkonkoma Hub (another TSTC/One Region grantee) and a Hempstead downtown redevelopment project by Renaissance Downtowns. The Governor’s Council should support initiatives like these that will put Long Island on a more sustainable economic and environmental path.

Image: Town of Babylon.

As a way to jump-start the state’s economy, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a $626 million bipartisan jobs bill last month. Included in the jobs bill were some important transportation and land use investments, as well as [...]]]>

Goodwin College's new campus in East Hartford, CT is being built on a former brownfield site.

As a way to jump-start the state’s economy, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a $626 million bipartisan jobs bill last month. Included in the jobs bill were some important transportation and land use investments, as well as reforms to the State Traffic Commission (STC), an obscure state board that has a significant role in Connecticut’s quality of life.

Coming on the heels of the recent release of a national report highlighting deficient bridges, it was heartening to see the legislation include $50 million for bridge repair. Tri-State’s analysis of Connecticut’s 2010-2013 transportation capital program, found that nearly 33% of the state’s bridges are considered deficient, making this $50 million allocation a welcome addition.

The jobs bill also included $20 million for developers and businesses to tap into as a way to redevelop the state’s brownfields. Considering the state has 281 brownfields totaling nearly 2,600 acres, it’s important to ensure that this money be targeted to communities that are developing, or are willing to develop, in a more smart-growth or transit-oriented manner.

The bill also includes reforms to the State Traffic Commission that should speed up the permitting process (the Commission must issue a certificate of operation for any development next to a state road that is greater than 100,000 square feet or includes at least 200 parking spaces). Unfortunately, these reforms will do little to change the 1950′s era assumptions that lead to overestimates of traffic impacts caused by development projects. As Tri-State board member Norman Garrick highlighted in a 2010 op-ed about Mansfield Road in Storrs, the Commission failed to adequately consider different types of development in its traffic-generating models. By not doing so, the STC ends up recommending wider roads to deal with new development as opposed to pedestrian, cycling or transit improvements as solutions to mitigate congestion.  Similar considerations (driven by ConnDOT) are causing challenges in the Route 34 highway-to-boulevard project in New Haven.

Photo: EPA.

Local elections often go unnoticed, especially in an “off year” like 2011 when state and federal elections aren’t on the ballot. While this is unfortunate for many reasons, it’s particularly unfortunate because these local races often determine the direction of land use [...]]]>

Legislative districts on Long Island are up for election this year.

Local elections often go unnoticed, especially in an “off year” like 2011 when state and federal elections aren’t on the ballot. While this is unfortunate for many reasons, it’s particularly unfortunate because these local races often determine the direction of land use and transportation policy in the region.  The majority of land use decisions are made at the local levels, and local budgets often determine the direction of transportation priorities. (See Bus, Long Island)

This year, in addition to myriad local town and municipality elections, both the Nassau and Suffolk County Legislatures are up for election. Suffolk County will also elect a new County Executive, as current County Executive Steve Levy is not running for reelection.

To provide voters with insights into candidates’ positions on key transportation and land use issues, Tri-State drafted a questionnaire for races in both County Legislatures and the race for Suffolk County Executive. Issues covered include the privatization of Long Island Bus, expansion of bus service in Suffolk County, and positions on development around the Nassau Hub and the Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center.  Questionnaires were distributed to each candidate in the Nassau County Legislative races, to both candidates for the Suffolk County Executive race and via the Suffolk County Democratic and Republican Party headquarters for the Suffolk County Legislative races.

Here are the responses Tri-State received:

Suffolk County Executive candidate Angie Carpenter

Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams (District 1)

Nassau County Legislative candidate Carrie Solages (District 3)

Nassau County Legislative candidate Darlene Tangney (District 4)

Nassau County Legislative candidate Eva Pearson (District 14)

Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs (District 16)

Nassau County Legislative candidate Delia Deriggi-Whitton (District 18)

Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg (District 19)

TSTC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and does not support or endorse political candidates.

Images: Suffolk and Nassau County legislative districts, via Suffolk and Nassau County Legislatures, respectively.

Late Sunday night, the Nassau County Legislature adopted its $2.63 billion budget along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats against.  Included in the budget was $2.5 million for LI Bus, which represents a 73% cut in [...]]]>

Nassau's 2012 budget cuts annual funding to Long Island Bus to just $2.5 million.

Late Sunday night, the Nassau County Legislature adopted its $2.63 billion budget along party lines, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats against.  Included in the budget was $2.5 million for LI Bus, which represents a 73% cut in support for the beleaguered system and less than 0.1% of the total county budget.

The adoption of this budget is a de facto vote for increased fares and service cuts.  That’s because no matter who runs the system — the MTA, Veolia Transportation, or another entity — $2.5 million is wholly inadequate to operate a system the size of LI Bus without fare increases, service cuts, layoffs or an increasing the cost of doing business in Nassau County.

Still hovering over the future of LI Bus is the yet to be released secret contract between Nassau County and Veolia Transportation, which will outline what service will look like and what rate of fares riders will have to pay.  Advocates and outraged citizens have taken over multiple budget hearings because of this lack of transparency and are eagerly awaiting the documents’ release to see what 2012 and beyond hold for riders, workers and all those who depend on the system.

Most observers believe that the contract will not be made public until after next week’s election, in which all seats in the County Legislature will be contested.