Your weekly guide to heroic and villainous actions in tri-state transportation and development.
Winners
Assemblyman James Brennan (D-Brooklyn) and Senator Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn)—After a bill to safeguard New York’s transit funding was defanged late last year, the lockbox bill is back and better than ever. Assemblyman Brennan and Senator Golden have introduced a broader version of the legislation, which now protects against the diversion of funds dedicated to New York State’s 130 transit systems.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer—While it remains to be seen if the commuter tax proposed by Borough President (and mayoral candidate) Scott Stringer is the best solution to the MTA’s funding woes, he should be praised for putting transit at the center of next year’s mayoral race in New York City.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation—Not content with its own internal complete streets policy, NJDOT is now helping municipal officials make their roadways friendlier to pedestrians and cyclists. A series of workshops is bringing expert advice to local governments, which could make New Jersey’s streets safer and more vibrant.
The City of New Britain—Seizing on the potential of the Hartford-New Britain Busway to make the city a transit-oriented destination, New Britain is already at work creating pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in its downtown.
Losers
Bronx Parking Development Company—After $100 million in city and state aid, along with $237 million in tax-free bond financing, the company that built parking garages by Yankee Stadium has told the Securities and Exchange Commission that it will likely default.
Connecticut State Senator Joseph Markley (R-Southington) and Representative Whit Betts (R-Bristol)—Even as central Connecticut moves to capitalize on the busway’s economic potential, its opponents are trying to thwart the project through fear mongering and procedural maneuvering. Senator Markley and Representative Betts have attached busway-killing language to several bills that would protect Connecticut’s first responders, and their move threatens the livelihoods of those that need better transit and those that are counting on jobs from new economic development.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)—The House, which could not pass its own transportation bill earlier this year despite the bipartisan model offered by the Senate, instead ushered through a “dirty” extension of current transportation policy this week. While extending the status quo for 90 days, the legislation also included the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, the deregulation of coal ash, and provisions that would gut the environmental review process. This piece of legislative gamesmanship intends to give the Republican-controlled House leverage in negotiations with the Senate and puts partisan politics ahead of forward-thinking national transportation policy.
