Regional take on transportation
-
- May
- 15
Well, now, this makes sense. State Sen. Thomas Morahan, R-New City, sent out a press release saying that Hudson Valley state senators are proposing a regional taskforce to examine MTA services in the Hudson Valley counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland. Here’s the goal:
The task force will focus on how the MTA can contribute to the economic vitality of the region and what key, specific improvements should be made by the MTA to serve the Hudson Valley.
The big issue is the 34-cent-per-$100-payroll “mobility tax” that’s been imposed on all businesses (including nonprofits) in the 12-county MTA service area. Rockland officials are talking about pulling out of the MTA because the agency gives about $40 million less in service to Rockland than it gets in financial support from the county. (My own musings on Rockland — and the other “quarter pounder” counties that share one full vove on the MTA — are outlined in this May 11 post.)
Well, the idea of a task force to examine what, exactly, MTA offers the northern suburbs, and what the region really needs from MTA, is certainly a worthwhile pursuit. Of course, it should be bipartisan and balanced with representation among regions, business, government, commuters, etc.
Speaking of transporation issues, today, I hosted an Editorial Spotlight on a plan being championed by Federated Conservationists of Westchester County to bring a Bus Rapid Transit system across the Interstate 287 corridor in Rockland and Westchester now, using existing transportation systems and infrastructure. That’s another way of looking at regional transportation issues, and like this task force, a valuable one. See the discussion by going to www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight and clicking “On Demand” then choosing “Editorial Board on Transportation.”
This entry was posted
on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 3:36 pm by Nancy Cutler.
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