State Legislature
Streetsblog Basics
Life-Saving Speed Cams Find an Enemy in New York AAA
Legislation to bring automated speed enforcement to the city is drawing fire from the New York branch of AAA.
January 13, 2011
Splinter Group of Senate Dems Want MTA Payroll Tax on Chopping Block
The fate of the payroll mobility tax, which brings in $1.34 billion a year to the MTA, just grew a little shakier. The four members of the State Senate's new Independent Democratic Conference, who split off from the minority Democrats last week, have come out with their agenda and included in it is a call to "reform" the tax and even consider eliminating it. Any cut to the mobility tax would spell disaster for transit riders.
January 10, 2011
Advocates and Unions to Cuomo: Put a Stop to Transit Raids
A broad coalition of good government groups, transit and environmental advocates, and unions sent a letter to Andrew Cuomo on Friday [PDF] urging the incoming governor to protect straphangers by ensuring that transit revenues are spent on transit.
December 20, 2010
Despite New York’s Huge Transit Ridership, Albany Failing On Green Transpo
New York State might be home to more transit riders than any other state, but when it comes to the transportation policies on the books, we don't look quite so green.
December 14, 2010
Road Pricing Still the Big Missing Piece in MTA Funding Puzzle
It's been 20 months since the state legislature passed an MTA funding package with a conspicuous missing piece. In early 2009, the transit agency was reeling from the recession, and straphangers were about to get walloped by deep service cuts and a 23 percent fare hike. Albany responded by enacting just a partial fix: a regional payroll tax and a smattering of new fees on taxis and car rentals. Tolls on the East and Harlem River bridges were supposed to be part of the deal -- getting car commuters who benefit from the congestion-busting effect of transit to contribute their fair share. But the State Senate insisted on preserving the free ride for motorists.
December 6, 2010
Legislature Passes on Deficit Fix, Putting MTA Raids In Cuomo’s Hands
In Albany this week, legislative leaders declined to take action to close the state's current $315 million budget deficit. That pushes the problem into 2011, when a new governor and likely a Republican State Senate will be in power. Whether dedicated MTA funds will still be used as a piggy bank, at the expense of transit riders, will be up to next year's leadership.
December 2, 2010
With Truck Mirror Law, Albany Can Save Children’s Lives Next Week
Governor Paterson has called a special session for the legislature next week, and it's full of big, tough bills. For example, both David Paterson and Andrew Cuomo are urging legislators to close a $315 million deficit, an action which could again steal dedicated funds from the MTA. Education funding is also on the docket.
November 24, 2010
Speeding Cams Effective and Popular, But No Sure Thing in Albany
As valuable as 20 mph speed limits would be, for some New Yorkers they'd be dead letter law. Take, for example, the scofflaw motorists whom a team of fourth graders caught speeding 50 mph down Atlantic Avenue last week. Safer streets will require not only a lower speed limit, but an effectively enforced speed limit.
November 23, 2010
Cuomo Wants Budget Fix ASAP, So Another MTA Raid May Be Coming Soon
If Andrew Cuomo has his way, the state legislature and Governor Paterson will close the state's $315 million shortfall before he takes office. The push from the governor-elect means that in the next two months, New York state's current leadership may again determine whether to close a budget gap by raiding MTA dedicated funds. Nearly $20 million for transit could be on the line.
November 10, 2010