State Legislature
Streetsblog Basics
Albany Lawmakers Fail to Advance Bills on Careless Driving, Select Bus Lights
Proponents of safer streets and a stronger MTA fared better than usual in Albany this year, securing speed cameras for NYC and scoring a tentative win on the transit lockbox -- which now depends on Governor Cuomo's signature to protect straphangers from budget raids by state lawmakers, including himself. However, legislators failed to pass bills that would have restored speedier bus service to NYC and helped protect New Yorkers from motorists who injure and kill.
July 1, 2013
NYC Aims to Make the Most of Its Handful of School-Zone Speed Cameras
Details concerning New York City's first-ever speed camera program are scarce. To slow down as many speeding drivers as possible with the small number of cameras permitted by Albany, this is as it should be.
June 27, 2013
Cuomo’s Signature Expected After Legislature Approves NYC Speed Cameras
After years of persistence, advocates for safer streets are closer than ever to a milestone achievement: Following the measure's approval in the Assembly, the State Senate passed a bill early Saturday to allow New York City to use cameras to catch motorists who speed near schools. A spokesperson for Andrew Cuomo has said the governor will sign the bill into law.
June 24, 2013
At Prendergast Confirmation, NYC State Senators Bash Select Bus Service
It's been a long road for Tom Prendergast to become the chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. After the previous MTA chair, Joe Lhota, split to run for mayor, it took Governor Cuomo more than three months to nominate Prendergast. Then his confirmation hearing was put on hold for more than two months by Senate Transportation Committee chair Charles Fuschillo. But yesterday afternoon, on the final day of the legislative session, Prendergast secured a unanimous vote of approval from Fuschillo's committee.
June 21, 2013
Marty Golden Needs to Hear From New Yorkers Who Want Speed Cameras
It appears The speed camera bill will clear has cleared the Assembly, but the effort to protect NYC school kids from reckless drivers is in trouble in the State Senate.
June 21, 2013
The Time Is Now to Speak Up for Speed Cameras in NYC [Updated]
If you were waiting for the right moment to hit the phones in support of speed cameras, now would be good.
June 20, 2013
Will Cuomo Sign the Transit Lockbox Bill?
The transit lockbox bill, which would require Albany to disclose the impacts of any raid of dedicated transit funds, passed both the Senate and Assembly unanimously in the final days of the legislative session, reports the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. It now heads to Governor Andrew Cuomo's desk. A nearly identical bill reached Cuomo in 2011, but the governor gutted the disclosure provision and signed a toothless bill. This time around, will Cuomo put pen to paper and protect transit riders?
June 20, 2013
It’s Up to Albany to Give Select Bus Service Its Flashing Lights Back
The elimination of flashing blue lights on the MTA's Select Bus Service vehicles is probably the most absurd transit setback of the past year. Since New York state law limits the use of flashing blues to volunteer firefighters, the MTA caved in to pressure from Staten Island pols and took them off SBS buses this January.
June 17, 2013
After Unanimous Senate Vote, Transit Lockbox Bill Heads to Assembly
Albany has long used the MTA as a piggy bank, raiding dedicated transit funds on a regular basis to cover gaps in the state budget. As a result, straphangers are squeezed as transit agencies resort to fare hikes and service cuts to make up the difference.
June 13, 2013
Albany’s Slimmed-Down Speed Cam Legislation Could Cross the Finish Line
This afternoon, the City Council passed a home rule resolution calling on Albany to pass legislation enabling speed enforcement cameras in school zones. The last time there was action on speed camera legislation, more than two months ago, Mayor Bloomberg was chastising state senators Marty Golden, Simcha Felder, and Dean Skelos for torpedoing the program in the Senate's budget legislation after the Assembly moved ahead with automated enforcement in its budget proposal. Now it looks like a more restricted version of that bill has a good shot at passing.
June 12, 2013