Winners

James Vacca—the chair of the City Council Transportation Committee called traffic safety “a serious civil rights issue” after Councilwoman Gale Brewer introduced legislation that would help blind pedestrians navigate the streets.

Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA)—after pressure from TSTC and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, the DRPA Finance Committee voted to install a bike ramp on the Camden side of the Ben Franklin Bridge, which connects the city to Philadelphia. Committee Chair Jeff Nash has said that the board is “intent on getting it done,” and the project awaits the DRPA board’s approval.

New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo and Senator Robert Menendez—Representative LoBiondo voted to amend the disastrous House transportation bill, which threatens dedicated funding for bike and pedestrian programs. The amendment was narrowly voted down, but LoBiondo stood up for pedestrian safety, and we noticed. Senator Menendez, working on the other chamber’s version, has put together a bill that increases dedicated transit funding and establishes a transportation-oriented development program.

The Connecticut Post—this week, several reporters have put away their car keys and are biking, walking, or taking public transit, “facing the challenge of getting around mass transit’s missing links.”

Losers

Veolia—on January 1, Veolia took control of Nassau County’s newly-privatized bus system. They pledged to set up a Customer Advisory Committee, which was to begin meeting in January. To our knowledge, no such committee has convened.

Town of Hempstead—at the Town of Hempstead’s board meeting last week, TSTC and pedestrian safety advocate Sandi Vega were assured that a complete street policy was in the works. The town first promised the initiative over a year ago, but the board has taken no action.

Transit-hostile, pedestrian-hostile U.S. Representatives—House leadership is pushing for a long-term transportation bill that would end dedicated bike and pedestrian funding and jeopardize federal transit money, which supports public transportation nationwide. The bill, which Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called ” the “worst,” “most anti-safety” transportation bill he has ever seen, has passed out of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Ways & Means. It awaits discussion in the House.