A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in tri-state transportation news.
Winners
NY State Senator Daniel Squadron and NY State Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh — The New York State Senate passed a bill that would close a loophole that hinders police efforts to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. The bill was championed by Senator Squadron and Assemblymember Kavanaugh, who will now shepherd it through the Assembly.
NJ State Senator Diane Allen — Allen introduced the Senate version of a bill that aims to improve pedestrian safety across the state.
CB 10 Board Member Doris Cruz and BRAKES — The advocacy work of Bay Ridge Advocates for Keeping Everyone Safe has supported improved pedestrian safety measures for Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge. And former CB 10 Transportation Chairwoman Doris Cruz called out opponents of the plan, suggesting they were speeders themselves. Cruz said “critics of the Fourth Avenue proposal [should] take a look at themselves — or at least at their speedometers.”
Shore Line East — The southeastern Connecticut commuter railway is expanding service, something advocates have urged for years.
City of Yonkers, NY — Yonkers adopted green building standards that would create incentives for transit-oriented development.
Losers
Islip Town Board — Located 2.6 miles from the nearest train station and covered in parking, the Islip Pines project that the Town Board pushed forward this week won’t do anything to reduce vehicle miles traveled on Long Island. It might be mixed-use, but it’s certainly not smart growth.
New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority — NJSEA approved the plans to expand the American Dream Meadowlands project without holding the developer accountable to fund transit improvements.
Southwest Connecticut Metro-North Commuters — “Carmageddon” was mostly avoided, but increased congestion caused by residual effects of the collision on the Metro-North New Haven line near Bridgeport led to longer commutes earlier this week.
