A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
New York State Senator and Public Authorities Control Board Member Bill Perkins – Senator Perkins penned a letter to Governor Cuomo regarding the Environmental Facilities Corporation loan that points to “an entire host of outstanding questions and legal concerns surrounding this project that have not been answered to the satisfaction of anyone.”
Amazon warehouse workers in Robbinsville, NJ – Amazon is now providing free shuttle service to employees at its Robbinsville warehouse – a promising example of a developer filling the funding gap in a state so strapped for transit funding.
NJ Transit riders – There is no fare increase in the agency’s approved budget for the fifth consecutive year.
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer – In a new report, the Comptroller cites TSTC’s Complete Streets Liability Primer, which shows how Complete Streets can not only prevent injuries, but also protect governments from potential liabilities associated with traffic incidents.
Staten Island Mall owner General Growth Properties – General Growth Properties is filing a parking exemption request with the City so it can replace 281 “underutilized” parking spaces with expanded retail space.
LOSERS
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, State Senator John DeFrancisco and State Budget Director Robert Megna – The voting members of the Public Authorities Control Board unanimously approved a raid of water upgrade funds reserved for struggling municipalities to partially finance the Tappan Zee Bridge project.
New Jersey State Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon – Well-known for his anti-camera stance, O’Scanlon is seeking to protect New Jersey drivers from red light and speed enforcement cameras in other states.
Connecticut drivers — According to a White House report released this week, Connecticut’s roads are the worst in the nation.
New York City drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians – According to an analysis of speed camera data compiled by WNYC, it isn’t just privately-owned passenger cars that have been caught speeding — taxis, commercial vehicles and even City- and State-owned vehicles were also caught.
Why is it a good thing that New Jersey Transit hasn’t raised its fares? If the costs have gone up why shouldn’t the primary beneficiaries pay at least a portion of that increase? If you support the raising of the New Jersey fuel taxes (and I do), the transit fares also should rise.
Senator Perkins goes from public enemy No. 2, as an opponent of the 125th Street BRT lane for the M60, to environmental hero for writing a letter questioning the use of clean water capital projects money for bridge construction in Westchester County. I guess there is redemption. Either that or the TSTC has a very short memory.