A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck – The agency has not just rubberstamped the list of projects proposed to be funded with the $511 million loan from the EFC, but instead is ensuring that “every single dollar is spent in accordance with federal laws and rules,” including the $100,000 proposal to relocate one peregrine falcon nesting box.
New York City Councilmember Margaret Chin – Two months after Mayor de Blasio released his affordable housing plan, Chin is calling for a municipal parking lot in the lower east side to be redeveloped for affordable housing.
Norwalk and Waterbury, CT – The City of Norwalk, Connecticut was one of only four cities in the nation to receive a $30 million Choice Neighborhood Initiative grant from the federal government, to redevelop a housing complex near rail. The State of Connecticut is investing $19 million in Metro-North Waterbury branch signalization as well as street improvements in downtown Waterbury.
Hoboken, NJ Residents, Commuters and Pedestrians – After three years and $54 million, Hoboken’s 106 year-old 14th Street Viaduct has reopened. The eight-lane feeder for the Lincoln Tunnel was redesigned to incorporate pedestrian plazas, recreation areas and a dog park.
New Jersey State Senators Loretta Weinberg and Stephen Sweeney – Both legislators urged the NJ Transit board to fund improvements at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
LOSERS
Metro-North Rookie Conductors – An entire training class of Metro-North conductors was disbanded for cheating on a recent safety exam; nine first-year employees were fired and three veteran employees seeking promotions to conductor were reassigned. An unnamed source close to the situation said, “This could be the tip of a larger iceberg.”
Amtrak and NJ Transit Riders – Rush-hour commuters along the Northeast Corridor suffered quite a headache Tuesday morning, as faulty overhead wiring temporarily suspended Amtrak and NJ Transit service.
Connecticut – More than 85 infrastructure projects in the state could be affected if Congress fails to fix the Highway Trust Fund.
“Coal Rollers” – A recently-exposed trend called “coal rolling,” where drivers of diesel-fueled vehicles intentionally “trick” their engines into consuming more fuel than is needed in order to blow plumes of black smoke – or, “Prius Repellent.”
Re: Sens. Weinberg and Sweeney urging the NJ Transit Board to fund improvements at the PABT.
If NJ Transit and other carriers pay to use the platforms at the PABT (which they do), and if they pay departure fees (which they do), then shouldn’t the primary responsibility of improving the PABT rest with the Port Authority? The facility is truly one that meets a bi-state need, not just a NJ Transit need, even if NJ Transit is the largest tenant.
If NJ Transit were flush with cash, I might feel differently about this; but a review of their budget seems to me to suggest that things are tight on both the capital and operating sides now. So, there is little money to fund improvements at the PABT. (Note: If all facility users were to contribute on a proportional basis for improvements at a fair rate with the bulk of the money still coming from the Port Authority, I might feel differently.)
To clarify my previous comment and to correct your comment above:
Based on other, more complete reports: Senators Sweeney and Weinberg did not urge NJ Transit to fund improvements at the PABT. Rather, they urged NJ Transit, as the largest tenant of the PABT, to pressure the PANYNJ to make improvements.
To be more complete, The PANYNJ committed to shifting $90 billion in the capital budget to the bus terminal in April after Tri-State made a request to the PA board for more investment at the terminal. This is at least a month before our esteemed lawmakers started talking about the problem. Executive Director Pat Foye confirmed the money would be moved after the meeting. What hasn’t been decided by the PANYNJ is what the money will be used for.
http://www.app.com/story/news/2014/04/25/transit-ddvocates-want-more-bus-terminal-funding-from-port-authority-/8135787/
My hat is off to Mayor Zimmer for riding her bike to the event but its a shame she won’t be able to safely ride her bike up the 14th Street Viaduct to destinations in Jersey or Union Cities. This would NEVER have been built without bike lanes in any city west of Denver. What a lost opportunity. It’s otherwise a VERY beautiful bridge.
I assume the number above should be $90 MILLION not $90 billion. Huge difference even by Port Authority standards.