The long-term authorization of the Federal Transportation Bill has been hanging in limbo since September 2009. But there have been recent indications that President Obama would like it to be high on Congress’ list of things to do next year. The New York State Transportation Equity Alliance recently asked congressional candidates, from across NY State to respond to the following question, which is part of a longer survey:

What are your top legislative priorities for the federal transportation bill that specifically address environmental justice and civil rights?

Here are the responses:

Long Island

Timothy Bishop (D-1st)

One of my top priorities for the Surface Transportation Authorization Act is to decrease the nation’s reliance on automobile travel and increase funding for transit improvements and operations. I am also involved with increasing opportunities for non-vehicular local transportation improvements and smart growth policies.

Howard Kudler (D-3rd)

Making sure that Americans will arrive safely and efficiently at their destinations.

Carolyn McCarthy (D-4th)

The federal transportation bill should ensure the funding is distributed equally and fairly. This includes more funding for our rails, buses and other forms of mass transit.

New York City

Kenneth Reynolds (R-7th)

A transportation bill that addresses civil rights and “environmental justice”? That’s too-loaded a question for me. Sorry.

Jerrold Nadler (D-8th)

I support transportation projects and policies that reduce environmental pollution in low-income and minority communities, such as the Cross Harbor Rail Tunnel that will remove over 1 million tractor-trailers off NYC roads, and that primarily traverse the GW Bridge causing high asthma rates in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan.

Diana Muniz (R-10th)

As the climate changes in our environment, so does the population increases, there is a bigger need to expand in tecnology. We need to stop servcice cuts and keep cost down, since the goverment has not given a pay increase in many years.

Yvette Clarke (D-11th)

1. Create jobs, especially green jobs. 2. Focus on public transportation needs as much as highway expansion. 3. Greater transparency and public participation in the transportation planning of communities.

Michael McMahon (D-13th)

I believe that the federal government needs to make a significant increase in our support for mass transit.

Michel Faulkner (R-15th)

My top legislative priority is to return disenfranchised unemployed Americans back to work. When more people are working, the federal government has more money to use to protect and maintain America’s transportation systems.

Hudson Valley/Capitol Region

Nita Lowey (D-18th)

Ensuring that public transportation, specifically Metro-North Railroad, the Bee Line Bus System, and New York City Transit, are adequately funded and that service is expanded. Congress must also provide substantial assistance in the development and construction of a new Tappan Zee Bridge, linking the Hudson Valley with either dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lanes or an expansion of Metro-North service.

John Hall (D-19th)

My top priority for the federal surface transportation bill is to include a clean construction provision. Clean construction means requiring and funding construction equipment that works on federally funded transportation projects to substantially reduce particulate matter using the best available technology. Over 37 percent of land-based particulate matter comes from construction equipment, and cleaning up this equipment would enhance air quality and make communities healthier. This sort of pollution is particularly prevalent in lower income communities and communities of color. I recently called on Chairman Oberstar to include this provision and was able to gather the support of 16 other members of the committee.

Paul Tonko (D-21st)

We need to make sure the new federal highway bill treats all communities equally. One of my concerns when it came to the stimulus was that projects had to be “shovel ready”. However, some of the communities with the most need did not meet this requirement because they are in our poorer inner city and rural communities. I would have preferred to see those communities held to different requirements because without some type of federal support those areas will never be “shovel ready”. The stimulus could have made great strides in these areas. I believe we must address this issue in future transportation legislation.

Maurice Hinchey (D-22nd)

Greater investments in transit systems and improve availability, access and safety of bike and pedestrian infrastructure in the most underserved communities.

Western New York

Philip Fedele (D-26th)

I currently am not knowledgeable about the federal transportation bill.

Louise Slaughter (D-28th

Providing transportation choices and creating livable communities is essential to improving mobility for all users and ensuring that the transportation system enhances our quality of life. Expanding access to sustainable modes of transportation, and incorporating long-term mobility needs into the community planning process will yield significant benefits for public health and the environment. I especially support the creation the Office of Livability within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of DOT, which would establish a focal point within FHWA to advance environmentally sustainable modes of transportation, including transit, walking, and bicycling. This Office will encourage integrated planning, linking land use and transportation planning, to support the creation of livable communities.

The full survey, with candidates’ responses to all questions, is available here. NYSTEA, a coalition of over 70 organizations across the state, is a nonpartisan entity and does not support or oppose candidates or political parties.