A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
New Jersey Senator Diane Allen — Senator Allen proposed a bill package aimed at making Route 130–New Jersey’s most dangerous road for walking–safer for everyone. The package includes legislation to permanently reduce the speed limit on Route 130 to 25 mph; to increase penalties against drivers who speed in school zones; and to enable municipalities to lower speed limits in school zones.
Connecticut State Representative Kim Rose — Thanks to Rep. Rose, Connecticut Department of Transportation will repaint crosswalks, re-time traffic signals and add speed limit signs among other improvements to make Bridgeport Avenue, where drivers have killed four people since 2006, safer for people walking.
New Jersey Assemblymember Annette Chaparro — Assemblymember Chaparro introduced legislation to help cops catch hit-and-run drivers by circulating vehicle descriptions to police departments and highway message signs.
New York Public Transit Association President Bill Carpenter — Following the outstanding leadership of three-term President Carm Basile, NYPTA elected Bill Carpenter as its new leader. Carpenter is the President and CEO of the Regional Transit Service, which serves Western New York, and previously served as NYPTA’s Vice President and Legislative Committee Chair.
Alec Baldwin — The 30 Rock star was spotted defending Midtown pedestrians from an impatient driver on 45th Street yesterday.
1/2 It was like a dream but it really happened: @AlecBaldwin defended Midtown peds by throwing cookie at windshield of agro, reckless…
— Joanna Oltman Smith (@jooltman) November 1, 2016
2/2…honking driver. @AlecBaldwin also filmed & called her some things can't repeat in polite company. Wish more folks spoke up! #myhero pic.twitter.com/Czv4RxV7di
— Joanna Oltman Smith (@jooltman) November 1, 2016
LOSERS
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno — Guadagno seemed to have missed the memo that Governor Christie already signed the gas tax increase into law: she said voting yes on Question 2–a ballot measure requiring gas tax revenues to go towards transportation purposes–was effectively “a vote for the gas tax.” (It is not.)
Upper East Side subway riders — It’s looking more and more likely that the Second Avenue subway will miss yet another deadline.
New Jersey Transit — According to data from the Federal Transit Administration, the agency had more train breakdowns in 2015 than any other commuter railroad in the country.
SEPTA riders — On day two of the SEPTA strike, 400,000 daily passengers on Philadelphia’s buses, trolleys and subways were left without a ride. While some commuters opted to walk or bike, others resorted to driving, resulting in some serious traffic jams throughout the region.
Ben Franklin Bridge, 10:40 a.m. Traffic backed up more than halfway heading to Philly. #SEPTAstrike pic.twitter.com/HgpKU5zGI3
— John Duchneskie (@jduchneskie) November 1, 2016
