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.
Democrat Howard Kudler is challenging Republican Assm. David McDonough (also running on the Conservative, Independence and Working Families tickets) in New York’s 19th Assembly District, which encompasses the Southeastern sector of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County. TSTC received responses from both candidates. Here are some of the highlights:
Howard Kudler
Mr. Kudler identified his top transportation priorities as resolving the problems of overcrowded highways, particularly the Southern State and Sunrise Highway, and holding the MTA accountable for fare hikes and its level of services.
Mr. Kudler proposes running double decker and luxury buses on Sunrise Highway to attract more ridership and make public transit “fun and visual.” He would also encourage adding more bike racks at LIRR stations. Mr. Kudler would also encourage development zones on Long Island and create transportation hubs to service the businesses.
To address traffic congestion, Mr. Kudler proposes to widen the Wantaugh Parkway and to push for the construction of an Oyster Bay-Connecticut tunnel that, according to him, “would allow more commercial trucking to access Long Island and bypass New York City.” He supports the LIRR East Side Access project, the LIRR Third Track project, the Long Island Intermodal project at Pilgrim State and the road widening along Route 347.
In order to fund transportation systems on Long Island, Mr. Kudler would have government agencies create “funded, privatized transportation groups” and would encourage large corporations to fund and finance transportation via tax incentives.
To reduce traffic and pedestrian fatalities, Mr. Kudler proposes to create walkways over roads like Sunrise Highway. These walkways would also connect to business zones.
Assm. David McDonough
Assm. McDonough is the ranking member (most-senior Republican) of the Assembly Transportation Committee. He supported proposals that made pedestrian and bicycle paths eligible for federal funds, as well as efforts to establish a bus rapid transit and mobility demonstration program in NYC (the latter was ultimately held up in committee).
Assm. McDonough said that it was necessary to study projects like the LIRR Third Track and the expansion of LI Bus terminals because of increased demand for mass transit on Long Island. However, he is currently undecided on whether to support the Third Track project. The assemblymember does support increased funding for LI Bus, and said it needed additional support from Nassau County as well.
When it comes to reducing congestion, the assemblymember said that the impacts of adding highway lanes have to be studied and that expanding bicycle and pedestrian paths would both reduce congestion and reduce pedestrian and cyclist fatalities on Long Island. Assm. McDonough called for NYSDOT to work with local governments on smart growth initiatives and in building street grids that alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the amount of travelers on roadways.
To support these initiatives, Assm. McDonough says he will “work to pass local bills in the Assembly that would provide funding for smart growth projects, bus related projects and measures that would improve LIRR ridership.”
Assm. McDonough indicated his support for the LIRR East Side Access project and the adding of travel lanes along Route 347. He is currently undecided as to his opposition to or support for the Long Island Intermodal project at Pilgrim State.
