Some of the most contentious transportation discussions in the region are taking place on Long Island. For this reason, TSTC sent surveys to the incumbents and challengers in every state legislative district in Nassau and Suffolk counties. MTR is highlighting each district from which at least one candidate responded.
Democratic Assemblymember Steve Englebright (also running on the Independence and Working Families Party tickets) is running for reelection this year and is being challenged by Republican Bruce Bennett (also running on the Conservative ticket) in New York’s 4th Assembly District, an area which encompasses the northern portion of the Town of Brookhaven, including Stonybrook and Setauket. TSTC received responses to our questionnaire from both Assm. Englebright and Mr. Bennett. Here are some of the highlights:
Mr. Bennett would encourage the use of alternative energy vehicles and the elimination of unnecessary stop signs and traffic lights by building overpasses on major highways, a tactic he would also use to promote safer pedestrian and cycling environments. Mr. Bennett would encourage the use of more public transportation through projects like the addition of more rail cars and an overhead railroad built above the HOV lanes on the Long Island Expressway. In order to fund these and existing transportation projects, Mr. Bennett proposes to raise sales taxes on SUVs and vehicles that get less than 30 miles per gallon.
Mr. Bennett indicated his support for the LIRR Third Track project, the Long Island Intermodal project at Pilgrim State and the NYSDOT project to add travel lanes along Route 347. However, he remained unsure about his support or opposition to the LIRR East Side Access connection to Grand Central Terminal.
Assm. Englebright, during his tenure, has co-sponsored legislation that helped create a 3.3-mile Greenway Trail, currently under construction, in AD 4. Assm. Englebright also said he has been working to electrify rail service on the LIRR’s north shore line and expand parking capacity at LIRR stations to encourage transit use. In order to reduce congestion on Long Island, the assemblymember supports additional bikeways, more reliable bus service, and the addition of the Third Track on the LIRR Main Line.
Assm. Englebright calls for the creation of a dedicated funding stream for Long Island transportation “if its goals and timetable are specific and offer clear benefits to suburban as well as urban commuters.”
To protect pedestrians and cyclists from the rising trend of fatalities and injuries on Long Island, Assm. Englebright calls for improved signal coordination, increased time for pedestrian crossings, and bike lanes and paths with better markings, including in-pavement reflectors and lights at busy crossings.
To mitigate transportation problems caused by poor land use decisions, Assm. Englebright would enable NYSDOT to “reject curb cuts and be a more forceful presence during land use planning and decision making.” According to the assemblymember, the existing dynamic where NYSDOT goes along with local land use decisions and tries to make the roads work properly after the fact is backwards and needs to be changed.
In addition to his support for the LIRR Third Track, Assm. Englebright supports the LIRR East Side Access project and the widening of Route 347. Assm. Englebright is unsure of his support or opposition to the Long Island Intermodal project at Pilgrim State, but would support an intermodal at an alternative location such as Republic Airport or the Ronkonkoma train station/MacArthur Airport area.
