Dear New Yorker,
We wanted to share our latest transportation report with you (see below). In it you'll find information about our latest efforts to improve Access-a-Ride service, details about an upcoming hearing on addressing mass transit needs in the outer boroughs, and other important news regarding public transportation.
If you have any questions or comments about this latest report, please don't hesitate to contact Lyle Frank in the NYC Council Human Services Division at lfrank@council.nyc.gov .
Thanks and have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
James Vacca
Chair, Transportation Committee
NYC Council
City Releases Data on Bicycle, Car Collisions
Data on bicycle and car collisions is now available for the first time on the NYC Department of Transportation's (DOT) website, thanks to Local Law 13 of 2011 , sponsored by Council Member Rosie Mendez.
The crash data, which is based on information from NYPD accident reports and broken down by borough and precinct, can be found online at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bicyclists/bikestats.shtml#safety .
Keeping track of bicycle crashes is crucial, especially as bike riding becomes more and more popular.
This data, along with the pedestrian safety reporting mandated by Local Law 12 of 2011 , sponsored by Council Member Jessica Lappin, will help give us a clearer picture of the most accident-prone of our city. Armed with this information, we'll be better able to work with local residents and community leaders to help keep our streets and neighborhoods safe and prevent future accidents.
A special note of thanks to Council Members Mendez and Lappin for all their hard work on these important initiatives.
Improving Transportation Options for the Disabled Community
Recently we have heard complaints about the manner in which Access-a-Ride (the MTA's door-to-door paratransit service for disabled New Yorkers) is determining the eligibility of customers who receive reimbursements for trips taken with a taxi or car service.
According to Access-A-Ride's rules on the MTA New York City Transit's (NYCT) website ( http://www.mta.info/nyct/paratran/policies/taxi_policy.pdf ), "NYCT reserves the right to reject any taxicab/car service reimbursement that appears to be altered, or to limit the amount of the reimbursement where the requested amount appears to be excessive (emphasis added)."
However, they don't define what the phrase "appears to be excessive" means, nor do they provide customers with clear guidelines indicating that the number of reimbursements to the same individual is limited and may be deemed "excessive."
Additionally, when the NYCT decides to temporarily suspend an Access-A-Ride customer, it doesn't adequately inform customers about the reason for the suspension and fails to communicate to them the length of the suspension. When Council staff contacted the NYCT about this, the agency wasn't able to satisfactorily explain the reasoning behind the suspension, or the length of time a suspension will last.
We have called on the NYCT to review their guidelines about taxi and car service reimbursement and to provide clarification about the terms of use. While NYCT has the prerogative to formulate policies regulating reimbursement, it would be very helpful for Access-A-Ride customers citywide to have a clear understanding of the restrictions in place.
We have also requested a meeting between members of our respective staffs and will keep you posted on our efforts to improve this invaluable service.
Upcoming Hearing on Addressing Mass Transit Needs Outside of Manhattan
Next Tuesday, June 19th, the NYC Council Transportation Committee will be holding a public hearing entitled, "Keeping Up with the Boroughs - Addressing Public Transit Needs Outside Manhattan".
We know mass transit needs are an extremely important issue affecting many of our communities, so please drop by if you can.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 am in the 14th Floor Committee Room at 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.
If you would like to testify, please be sure to register with the sergeant-of-arms on the 14th Floor prior to the start of the hearing.
If you can't make it, we would still very much like to hear from you. You can always email your written remarks to us at speakerquinn@council.nyc.gov , and we'll be sure to forward them to the Committee's staff in advance of Tuesday's hearing.
Muni-Meter Time Transferability
When you're out running errands, you ought to be able to buy time at one parking spot and then use the remaining time at another location.
Even though the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) has stated that it believes that muni meter time is already transferrable, many drivers have still been getting ticketed.
With the DOT aiming to finish replacing standalone meters with muni meters by the end of the year, this problem will only get worse if we don't take action now.
That's why, this past month, the City Council passed Local Law 29 of 2012 , clarifying once and for all that muni-meter time can be transferred to other metered parking spaces around the five boroughs, as long as the new parking space has the rate the same as or less than where the parking time was purchased. Time restrictions for the new parking space will also still apply.
With this new law, which was introduced by Council Member Vacca and signed by Mayor Bloomberg, we can help make life a little bit easier and fairer for drivers who have every right to feel that they should be able to keep the muni meter time that they have already paid for.
City Council and Mayor Bloomberg Unveil Online Map of City Park Rules
This past month the City unveiled a new online, interactive map that will make it easier for motorists to know where and when to park.
This new tool was mandated by Local Law 32 of 2011 , sponsored by Council Member Garodnick, requiring the NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunication (DoITT) to create an online, interactive map displaying current and planned closings due to construction, street fairs, and parades.
The map is available online at NYC.gov and will be updated once a month by the NYC Department of Transportation.
Users will be able to zoom in on a block anywhere in the five boroughs and check for parking regulations for that location, including no-standing, alternate-side-parking or school-parking-zone regulations.
We'd like to thank the Mayor and his Administration for working with us to help make New Yorkers' lives a little easier. Special thanks as well to Council Member Garodnick for his leadership and support authoring the bill that created this new online tool. With this information literally at their fingertips, New Yorkers will be better able to navigate the City and get from point A to B with less hassle.
Addressing the Budget Needs of the City's Mass Transit System
Each day, millions of New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs rely on the City's subways, buses, commuter rails and ferries to get to work and school, and to otherwise go about their lives.
That's why it's so important for us to ensure that as our City continues to grow, our transportation infrastructure grows with it.
After our preliminary budget hearing on transportation in March, Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature agreed to fully fund the MTA's current capital program.
This is great news for our city and state. A fully funded capital program means that the MTA can keep moving forward with big projects like East Side Access and the Second Avenue Subway. It also means that they can now move aggressively forward with funding critical needs, such as rehabilitating stations and improving conditions across the system. Yet, the MTA's operating budget is still at significant risk. In fact, the MTA plans across-the-board fare and toll increases as soon as next year.
Please know that we will continue to advocate for adequate funding for our vital mass transit system.