A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
Winners
New Jersey Senate — A bill that would add two public, transit-riding members to the NJ Transit Board of Directors was passed unanimously in the New Jersey Senate this week.
Providence, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation, the City of Providence and local advocates reached a “pragmatic compromise” on the future of the decaying 6-10 Connector which will eliminate barriers, improve pedestrian and bicycle connections, and make way for neighborhood-scale redevelopment.
LaGuardia holiday travelers — The MTA is trying to make the trip home for the holidays a little easier for New Yorkers traveling through LaGuardia International Airport.
Hartford Superior Court Judge Sheila A. Huddleston — Judge Huddleston rebuked a state marshal who claimed the right to park illegally, even in non-emergency situations, a decision that “should put an end to some galling parking behavior.”
Losers
NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller — Miller, clearly oblivious to the fact that speeding is the leading cause of traffic deaths in New York City, said in response to this week’s Berlin truck attack that in New York, “It’s hard to get up to speed to run anybody over.” Try telling that to the families of New Yorkers killed by curb-jumping drivers.
Connecticut Department of Transportation — The state is moving forward with a $640 million widening of Interstate 84 in Danbury, despite the fact that adding capacity is not a cure for congestion.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority — The MTA of the west spent $1.6 billion taxpayer dollars to widen the 405 Freeway and (predictably) it’s done nothing to relieve traffic congestion.
With regard to the Providence RI “win” I can see why the linked stories suggest such a characterization, community input did result in an improved plan. But it is still a large expressway system largely designed for the convenience of suburban motorists who just want to speed thru the city, and some activists think it was a missed opportunity to be a game-changer for struggling Providence.
Fir thse iterestd in RI transport issues, other good things in 2016 – our RIDOT arranged for Providence-Newport summer ferry service for the first time in years, used the commuter rail to ferry passengers to the annual air show at Quonset Point, we passed a “green economy” bond that includes an extra $10 million for state bike paths, and we made rogress on resoring commuter rail service to Pawtucket-Central Falls where there is some potential for transit-oritned development. On the bad side, RIPTA bus ridership contiues to slide, a 50 cent fare increase looms July 1 to already high fares, there are plans for a new interchange on I-295 to facilitate a Citizens Bank sprawl “campus” in a drive-only rural location at the expense of bank employment in the metro area, our RI DOT is proposing a reduction in public input into transportation planning while seeking a substantial (and costly) widening of I-95 northbound right where it cuts thru the center of Providence.