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 Matthew Meng is challenging Republican State Sen. Carl Marcellino (also running on the Conservative and Independence tickets) in New York’s 5th Senate District which encompasses parts of the Towns of Huntington and Oyster Bay in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. TSTC received no response from Sen. Marcellino, but Mr. Meng provided TSTC with a completed questionnaire that highlighted his stances on particular transportation issues:

Matthew Meng

Mr. Meng would support the LIRR Third Track project, pursue congestion pricing and push for more bike lanes, crosswalks and pedestrian bridges to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities on Long Island. He supports traffic calming and wrote that there should be “no new development on L.I. without having sidewalks and bicycle paths/rights-of-way.”

To address increased demand for public transit, Mr. Meng proposes to develop more north-south transit connections and support connecting Carle Place LIRR station to the Nassau Hub project in Uniondale via buses and/or extensions of LIRR lines. Mr. Meng would promote “rideshare” programs and encourage the use of jitney buses by large firms when possible. He said that red light cameras could help fund transportation.

In addition to the Third Track, Mr. Meng supports the LIRR East Side Access project and the Long Island Intermodal project at Pilgrim State. He is currently undecided on the Route 347 widening as he has “not fully studied the project.”

State Sen. Carl Marcellino

State Sen. Marcellino, going by his sponsored legislation, has focused on transportation policy primarily from a public safety perspective; he sponsored legislation which banned the use of handheld cell phones while driving and a separate bill banning texting while driving. However, he has been more active when it comes to promoting smart growth and brownfield redevelopment on Long Island. He sponsored several bills to provide tax credits for brownfield remediation, as well as the bill that created the New York State Smart Growth Cabinet.