State Legislature
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Albany Update: Bill to Protect Peds and Cyclists One Step Closer to Law
At yesterday's meeting of the State Senate codes committee, Hayley and Diego's Law passed in a 13-3 vote. The bill, which should give prosecutors greater leeway to bring charges against motorists who injure or kill pedestrians and cyclists, now moves to the finance committee. It passed the full Assembly earlier this week.
June 11, 2010
City Council to Albany: NYC Wants Bus Lanes That Work
Yesterday the New York City Council voted 46-4 to keep dedicated bus lanes free of traffic using camera enforcement. The measure, known as a home rule message, is a necessary step before state legislation can authorize a bus cam program. Attention now turns to Albany, where the bill faces critical votes in both the Assembly and State Senate in the days ahead.
June 10, 2010
Hayley and Diego’s Law Clears State Assembly
A few minutes ago, Hayley and Diego's Law cleared a vote in the full State Assembly. The next hurdle is the codes committee in the
fractious State Senate, where it's scheduled to come up for a vote
tomorrow.
June 9, 2010
Q&A With Sam Hoyt: Why New York State Needs a Smart Growth Law
With Albany's legislative session drawing to a close, the state legislature is considering several initiatives to promote sustainable transportation and livable communities in New York state. One of those initiatives is the State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act -- or the smart growth bill, for short. If enacted, the smart growth bill would shift state spending -- on roads and sewers, for example -- toward areas that have already been developed. Rather than subsidize more sprawl, New York would invest in its existing communities.
June 9, 2010
Albany Update: Hayley and Diego’s Law Has Momentum
The Albany legislative session is scheduled to end two weeks from today, and time is running out for state legislators to make streets safer, buses faster, and cities more sustainable. Earlier today we discussed the prospects of bus lane camera enforcement. Here's a survey of the other top legislative priorities for supporters of livable streets.
June 8, 2010
In Race to Succeed Schneiderman, Support for Transit, Skepticism on Tolls
One would be hard pressed to find a more broadly drawn constituency in the city than that of state Senate District 31, which spans from the Upper West Side to Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood before hopping the Harlem River into Riverdale. But in spite of vast differences in culture and income, most district residents have at least two things in common: they don't own a car, and they rely heavily on trains and buses to conduct their day-to-day lives.
June 8, 2010
Quinn and Vacca Urge City Council Support for Bus Cameras
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and transportation committee chair Jimmy Vacca gave better service for New York City bus riders a boost yesterday, speaking in favor of bus lane enforcement legislation currently making its way through Albany. The legislation is a critical component in the city's plans to expand and enhance Select Bus Service, including the route on First and Second Avenues officially announced yesterday.
June 8, 2010
Got a Question for Albany?
For as long as Streetsblog has been covering the transportation reform beat, Albany has been a graveyard for progressive transportation legislation affecting New York City. Sheldon Silver and Assembly Democrats buried congestion pricing there in 2008. The State Senate poured cement shoes for bridge tolls last year, hobbling the attempt to provide the MTA with greater financial stability. Now our transit system is shrinking, and the fiscal disaster that the state has unleashed on bus and subway riders seems poised to grow worse.
June 4, 2010
Albany Update: Hayley and Diego Hearing; Bus Riders Waiting for Shelly
We have a few quick updates on pending traffic safety legislation to pass along.
June 3, 2010