People

The Assembly yesterday passed legislation that would expand NYC's speed camera program by 120 cameras, bringing the total to 140. The bill, which also allows speed cameras in Nassau and Suffolk counties, was referred to the Senate rules committee this morning, bypassing the transportation committee. Rules is the last stop before a bill moves to the floor for a vote.

The MTA’s financial situation became much murkier yesterday as Governor Cuomo announced that retroactive raises will be part of a labor agreement between the transit authority and the Transport Workers Union.

I think most transit riders would laugh -- cynically -- at the idea that the MTA has more than enough funds to meet its needs. But this is exactly what the MTA’s chairman Tom Prendergast said when he learned that the state would be diverting $30 million from the MTA’s funding stream to balance the state budget.

Flashing lights on Select Bus Service vehicles are designed to help riders distinguish between pay-before-boarding SBS and pay-onboard local service. After years of operation without issue, Staten Island lawmakers exploited a minor state law to have the MTA turn off the lights 16 months ago. Bills in Albany to find a solution are stuck in committee, and now the bill's most powerful sponsor is backing away.

A judge sentenced a convicted drunk driver to just 90 days in jail and a six-month license suspension for killing a pedestrian in the Bronx.

Governor Cuomo and the leaders of the Assembly and State Senate all purportedly favor expanding NYC's speed camera program, yet they failed to authorize the use of more cameras during budget negotiations. As it stands a speed cam bill won't be acted on until later in April at the earliest, as both houses are adjourned and Cuomo refused to expedite a vote.

Governor Andrew Cuomo won't be denied. Overriding proposals from the Assembly and State Senate, the governor continues to pick the pocket of New York City's transit system, diverting $30 million from the MTA in the state budget.

How much transit service could the MTA add if Governor Cuomo's proposed $40 million transit raid doesn't make Albany's final budget? Here's a taste, courtesy of the Straphangers Campaign and the Riders Alliance.

Yesterday, members of Families for Safe Streets traveled to Albany to speak with legislators about legislation to lower NYC speed limits and increase automated enforcement of dangerous driving. They came away with an early victory: Assembly Member Joe Lentol of Brooklyn, a street safety ally who had been skeptical of a bill to lower the city's default speed limit to 20 mph, surprised the families by showing up at their press conference and giving a moving speech about why he now supports the measure.