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.