August 20, 2013

Westchester County will request proposals to run the Bee-Line Bus system. "Price and service are the core of any Bee-Line bus contract, and we now have a foundation for both," County Executive Rob Astorino said in a statement. "The request for proposals process will keep costs down and federal aid in place." Read more.

State News

Last week NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald announced the completion of the Hutchinson River Parkway bridge renovation project in Westchester County.  The innovative project was completed in a few days as part of Governor Cuomo’s New York Works program. The program utilizes creative planning to get work done quickly and minimize disruption to motorists. Read the press release here.

Last week Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that more than $1.7 million in State funding for emergency relief is being made available for 13 New York counties, cities and towns to help repair local roads and bridges damaged during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The additional funding means communities will only be responsible for paying five percent of overall costs to rebuild critical transportation infrastructure. Find the press release here.

In News Elsewhere

Investments in public transit pay off! According to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) refinements to transport systems in cities worldwide could lead to $70 trillion in savings by 2050. Cities like Belgrade, Seoul and New York City are examples of cities that have saved money by making changes to transport. Read more at govtech.com.

As the aging population grows, transportation for older adults and adults with physical disabilities are in high demand. The AARP Public Policy Institute has published a report that highlights sources of federal funding that providers can tap in order to provide essential transportation for older adults and adults with physical disabilities. Find the full AARP report here.

Thinking of moving? The Atlantic has named Syracuse the #1 city in the United States for safe refuge from natural disasters. Read more at Syracuse.com

Here’s is a terrific commentary from the Springfield, IL News-Leader, by area resident Irwin Cohen.  It’s a piece about his community’s need to be deliberate and thoughtful in planning out a transportation system that will meet future goals for the city.  We think Irwin is pretty sharp. He says, "The commitment to build a public transit system is the ultimate expression of faith in our community. It says not only that Springfield and surrounding areas have a future, but that its people believe enough in that future to plan carefully for it. They believe enough to make investments that will last while paying dividends today and for generations to come." Read more from Irving.

Social Media

 

This week on the NYPTA Facebook and LinkedIn pages we featured a fascinating story about a pneumatic tube subway system that really existed in New York City in the 1870s. Everything old is new again!

 

Conference News

The early registration discount for New York Public Transit Partners in Progress Conference & Expo ends Friday. Register today and save $100.