Budget. Budget. Budget. Reading the papers, one might think the budget is the only thing on Albany’s plate this year — and TSTC will be in the ring to fight for the funding needed for MTA projects beyond 2011 (which are unfunded) and keep NY’s transportation infrastructure in a state of good repair. But Tri-State will also be urging lawmakers to take simple legislative steps that can vastly improve the safety and flow of traffic on our roads. Want to cut down on congestion, improve air quality, increase the throughput of traffic on our highways, and reduce fatalities of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists—all without negatively impacting the state budget? Here are four ways to do it:

Complete Streets

Regular readers of MTR know that Complete Streets legislation is key on Tri-State’s wish list. Complete Streets assure that roads are designed to enable safe access for all users: bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and passengers, motorists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.  The legislation also recognizes that bicycling and walking are integral to New York’s transportation system, now and in the future. Communities across the state have taken the step, Governor Cuomo has expressed support for the legislation, and now is the time for the Senate (again) and the Assembly to join the party.

Speed Cameras

Speeding kills. The speed limit in NYC is 30 mph, but according to a study by Transportation Alternatives, 39% of the city’s drivers speed. A pedestrian hit by a car going only 10 miles over the speed limit has a 15% chance of surviving. There’s an easy solution: speed cameras are proven, cost effective tools that reduce speeds and save lives. Speed cameras are fair, accurate and efficient, and free up the police force to tackle more pressing business.

By supporting a speed camera demonstration program in NYC, targeting a maximum of 40 cameras at the most dangerous intersections, Albany officials can test the waters and see for themselves how today’s technologies are saving lives.

Improved Tolling

Toll booths bring in much-needed revenues, but they can increase congestion, air pollution, and commute times. As drivers try to sort into the various lanes—whether E-ZPass or cash—disorderly traffic patterns add to the chaos and annoyance of rush hour. But tolling technologies have come a long way. The Port Authority and Thruway Authority have rolled out gateless tolling that allows cars with E-ZPass to pay tolls without slowing down; the MTA will do so on the Henry Hudson Bridge this month.

The next step is completely cashless high-speed tolling in all lanes. This technology would use video cameras to identify and bill drivers without E-ZPass, which would require state approval.  There is no bill currently before the Legislature to allow video collection of tolls, but the three tolling agencies  mentioned above may all move to cashless tolling in the coming years — the MTA’s Henry Hudson project will eventually test cashless tolling, the Port Authority is upgrading all of its crossings to handle cashless tolling, and the Thruway Authority is studying cashless tolling.

Camera toll collection could also make it easier for agencies to convert sometimes underused carpool lanes into High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes — which are free to buses, jitneys, and those who carpool, but are also open to solo drivers willing to pay a toll. Other states have used these lanes to maximize road infrastructure, provide a never-congested option for people late for work, and create revenue streams that support transit.

Cross-Over Truck Mirrors

Large trucks with high front hoods have a blind spot in the front of their vehicles, making it difficult to see cyclists or pedestrians—especially small children—who may be crossing in front. According to USDOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts for 2006 Report, 70% of the pedestrians killed by large trucks were hit by the front of the vehicle.

Again, there is a simple fix—a convex mirror installed on the vehicle can enable drivers to see. These “cross-over” mirrors have been required on school buses since the mid-1970s, and NYC DOT has been installing them on their own fleet to help improve safety. Albany needs to make this low-tech, low-cost solution the norm for all trucks traveling on city roads.