A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
Winners
New Haven Board of Alders — Bike share is coming to New Haven thanks to the Board of Alders’ unanimous approval of a contract with operator Smart Mobility, which runs bike share systems in Hoboken, NJ and New Rochelle, NY.
Future New Starts recipients — At least for now, both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have declined to completely cut federal transit funding.
Rockaways commuters and NYC beach-goers — The trip from the Rockaways to lower Manhattan didn’t get any shorter, but it did get a lot more enjoyable.
Edison (NJ) Police Department — Edison Police gave Anil Vennavali a check for $1,000 after his bag — containing his computer, cash and train ticket — was stolen while he was helping a colleague who had fallen onto the tracks at the Edison NJ Transit station.
Losers
Metropolitan Transportation Authority — There’s a perfectly good reason why so many elevators and escalators in New York City’s subway system are out of service: because according to an audit by NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, the MTA isn’t maintaining them.
New York DMV Judge Jettie Thomas — Citing an incorrect, incomplete report, Judge Thomas declined to take action against a driver who killed a cyclist in Brooklyn last year, and apologized to the driver for the inconvenience of having to sit through the hearing.
NJ Transit and LIRR commuters — It looks like commuter rail riders who travel through Penn Station will follow up a “spring of discontent” with “Amtrageddon” thanks to Amtrak’s plan to close tracks for repairs.
Governor Andrew Cuomo — While the governor celebrated the opening of the new Kosciuszko Bridge by driving an antique car over it, New York City subway riders continue to ride a subway with an antique signal system.
I think Andy driving alone without anyone really responsible for the work with him tells more about his character.