Tuesday Headlines: Traveling Down The Valley Edition
Support for commuter rail directly connecting the west shore of the Hudson River and New York City is growing, with Newburgh City Council Member Ronald Zorilla supporting a study of the prospect, according to Mid Hudson News.
And that support extends to the statehouse.
Right now, commuters need to cross the river to get access to Metro-North stations or take the New Jersey Transit down to Secaucus and transfer to a New York City-bound train.
State Sen. James Skoufis (D-Cornwall) told Streetsblog that he loves a study as much as the next guy, but the ongoing debate around how to bring transit equity to the region has been talked to death already.
“I’m of the opinion that we need to be focused more on identifying which solution or set of solutions [is best], and then executing on those solutions to improve the situation, rather than spend more time deliberating what potential options are when, again, anyone who’s worked in this issue area knows what the potential options are,” he said.
Previous ideas, like using a CSX freight line on the western shore of the Hudson River for commuter trains, or using the Mario Cuomo Bridge or creating a one-seat loop for commuters that doesn’t make them switch trains in Seacaucus, aren’t feasible, according to Skoufis.
There are more novel solutions, but when Streetsblog asked the state Senate investigations chair explained he needed to “be a tease here.”
But he did let us guess.
Bus rapid transit was a no.
However, when we guessed that maybe he’d try to use the Hudson River itself, he shut down the line of questioning. It’s hardly definitive, but buying some shares of ferry companies might be a decent idea…
More news:
- These pesky LIRR workers sure know how to flout work regulations. (Newsday)
- Colleges and nonprofits made what are likely illegal campaign donations. (The Times Union)
- Republican state lawmakers want to unlock state matching funds for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial campaign after he was denied. (WXXI)
- LIRR service on the Ronkonkoma branch was partially suspended after a person was struck by a train near Bethpage. (News 12 Long Island)
- A study found e-bike injuries have been spiking at Bellevue Trauma Center. (Gothamist)
- Rochester wants public feedback on implementing automated traffic enforcement in the city. (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle)
- Darializa Avila Chevalier is gaining on Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan) in her upstart primary challenge. (The City)
- Step inside the power stations that keep New York City’s subways running, or stall them. (The New York Times)
- A former cop is hopping on the Mamdani bandwagon after he and his organization previously bashed the DSA and backed Republicans. (The New York Post)
- State lawmakers passed their fifth budget extender yesterday without much progress to show for negotiations. (City & State)
- President Trump’s attack on the Pope could cost Republicans political support with catholics heading into the midterms. (State of Politics)
- Another outlet has jumped on the state’s data center subsidy scam. (NY Focus)
Read More:
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