A weekly roundup of good deeds, missteps, heroic feats and epic failures in the tri-state region and beyond.
WINNERS
New York City Councilmembers Helen Rosenthal and Mark Levine — Councilmembers Rosenthal and Levine urged the DOT to install a protected bike lane and pedestrian islands on the Upper West Side’s crash-prone Amsterdam Avenue.
Second Avenue Subway supporters — At a press conference yesterday, State Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez called upon the MTA to restore funding for the Second Avenue Subway’s extension into East Harlem. State and city leaders also in attendance included New York State Assembly Members James Brennan and Rebecca Seawright; New York State Senators Liz Krueger, José Serrano and Adriano Espaillat; New York City Council Member Daniel Garodnick; and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy — The governor reiterated his call for a lockbox on the state’s Special Transportation Fund last week.
Jersey City, NJ — Citi Bike Jersey City has attracted more than 1,100 new members and seen more than 19,000 trips since launching in September.
Philadelphia, PA — The Manayunk Bridge reopened last week for people walking and biking, connecting Lower Merion Township and Manayunk over the Schuylkill River.
LOSERS
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules — Not much good news coming out of the House this week: the Rules Committee rejected several amendments to the House transportation bill, including one that would have provided more local control for small communities.
U.S. Representatives Richard Hanna (NY), John Katko (NY) and Frank LoBiondo (NJ) — Representatives Hanna, Katko and LoBiondo voted in favor of an amendment to the House transportation bill that, if it had passed, would have permitted heavier trucks.
New York State Senator Joe Addabbo — Senator Addabbo urged his constituents to submit comments in opposition to the Woodhaven SBS proposal, citing misguided concerns about increased congestion and jeopardized pedestrian safety.
Asbury Park, NJ — City officials rejected a state-proposed road diet along Main Street that would have added bike lanes and a central turning lane.
New Jersey Department of Transportation — The agency told the Town of Newton that several crosswalks that were paved over last year would not be re-painted until 2016.
