A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker — “I cannot support high volume hydraulic fracturing in the great state of New York,” said Zucker, prompting the Governor to announce a ban on the controversial energy extraction process, which would have had a major impact on transportation across the state.
Opponents of the Sterling Forest casino proposal — The state casino siting board announced its choice developers today, none of which will be located in Orange County – great news for those advocating against the Sterling Forest proposal.
Connecticut commuters — Governor Dannel Malloy toured the CTfastrak busway yesterday and stated that he felt confident that “the route will ease traffic jams on I-84, generate economic development and make commuters’ lives better.”
New York City Planning Commissioner Carl Weisbrod — Weisbrod recently promised that future city development would be approached through the lens of coordinated rational growth, with a focus on transit-oriented development.
U.S. Representatives Richard Neal, Rosa DeLauro and John Larson, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and Connecticut transportation commissioner James Redeker — The elected officials from both Massachusetts and Connecticut rode the rails to highlight recent upgrades to the regional transit line.
North Shore Bus Rapid Transit advocates — Councilwoman Debi Rose, The New York League of Conservation Voters and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to raise awareness and grow support for expanding transit options to the rapidly–developing North Shore.
LOSERS
Nassau County pedestrians, cyclists and motorists — On Monday, County legislators unanimously repealed the school zone speed camera program.
The 24 New Jersey municipalities that lost their red light cameras — The state legislature chose not to renew the program, leaving Newark, Glassboro and many other cities in the dark.
Newark cyclists — Bowing to pressure from local businesses in the North Ward, Mayor Ras Baraka “sprinkled the holiday cheer” by reportedly signing an executive order to remove the recently-installed protected bike lanes on Mount Prospect.
This Pew Charitable Trust report — Pew’s most recent analysis concludes that “distracted walkers” are a “major concern,” neglecting to acknowledge that operating a two ton vehicle carries more responsibility.
Metro-North Railroad — The agency was recently hit with the largest ever punitive damage fine charged by the FRSA for retaliating against an injured employee.
I’m sorry but walking distracted is stupidity to the highest degree. People have walked in front of buses, trains, light rail vehicles, etc. getting themselves seriously injured or killed. Someone wandering into the path of a moving vehicle operated lawfully is risking not only their lives but the lives of those in the vehicle. Pedestrians and cyclists also have the responsibility to make sure they are visible. I know that I am concerned that my outdoor dark blue jacket does not reflect well in the night so that a drive might not see me until too late so when I think I may be in an area where a driver might not be able to se me, I have take to wearing a reflective vest. Yes drivers have responsibility but pedestrians and cyclists also have responsibility.
And yet killing while driving remains the closest thing to legalized murder — a license to kill — within the U.S.
Concur that walking while distracted is stupid(ity). But some of those killed by buses and cars were right where they were supposed to be, when they were supposed to be there (with the light, in a street crossing). How “operated lawfully” might that be?
Moving into the path of LRT or a train, by contrast, really does seek to reach a higher level of inattention.