A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
New York State Senator Jose Peralta and Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Michael DenDekker — Senator Peralta proposed legislation to allow New York City to install speed cameras in every school zone, in addition to a bill to eliminate state restrictions on cameras’ working hours. Last month, Assemblymember Glick introduced similar legislation to the Assembly. Assemblymember DenDekker also proposed a bill to suspend vehicle registrations of drivers who are caught speeding five or more times in a year.
New York City Public Advocate Letitia James and Comptroller Scott Stringer — James and Stringer threw their support behind a campaign calling on the MTA to offer discount fares for low-income New Yorkers.
West Hartford, CT and Reading, PA — In the National Complete Streets Coalition’s nationwide ranking of complete streets policies adopted in 2015, West Hartford ranked second for its complete streets resolution–behind only Reading, PA, the first policy to ever score a perfect 100.
Connecticut General Assembly Transportation Committee — The committee cleared a bill to establish a new agency to help municipalities advance development near transit stations.
LOSERS
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie — The Garden State’s Transportation Trust Fund is still on track to run dry this summer, and there’s still no solution in sight.
New York Assemblymember David Weprin — Assemblymember Weprin still believes that toll reform in New York City would negatively affect businesses and working class people.
New York Thruway Authority — Even after a FOIL request by the Journal News, there’s still little insight into how much tolls could be on the New New York Bridge.
Bear Branch Elementary Principal Holly Ray – Walk your kids to school and you’ll be arrested, says the principal of this school in the Houston suburb of Magnolia, Texas. As if adults in Montgomery County need another reason not to exercise.
The MTA should charge full fare to all and sell fare media to other organizations who would be free to distribute them at whatever price they deem appropriate. The MTA is a transportation provider struggling to meet its budget, not a social service agency. Let the social service agencies pick up the tab for reduced fares.
I’ve tended to support speed cameras and even red light cameras, but in recent times, in suburbia, red light cameras seem to be causing an increasing number of accidents, and seem mainly used to generate revenue, while not improving safety. Ironically, the place they started, cities, still seem a good place for them; I remember one of the first in NYC, before actual ticketing began, recording huge numbers of taxis and NYCTA buses running the light. In the suburbs, they seem to generate huge amounts of revenue and lots of sudden stop based accidents. Oh, and I would not support unlimited use of cameras for revenue purposes.
Agree that lower fares for individuals who qualify for food stamps or some other measure of low income (Medicaid?) would be a reasonable idea but the MTA should not have to provide the subsidy. NYC and/or the suburban counties or NYS should provide the subsidy.