VOTE YES for Proposal 2,
Rebuild and Renew NY Transportation Bond Act

NY Bicycling Coalition (NYBC) urges a YES vote on the Transportation Bond Act, Proposition 2 on November 8^th.

Last spring NYBC urged State Legislators to add bicycling and walking as categories to their draft of the Bond Act legislation and we were delighted to receive a positive response.  Language authorizing “pedestrian and/or bicycle trails, pathways and bridges that serve transportation needs” was added as a part of the legislation. Though a percent of the $2.9 billion proposed five year program was not specified, $53 million in bicycle and pedestrian projects (about 2%) were identified in the program. The projects listed include sections of the Erie and Champlain Canal Trailways, the Bronx River Greenway and The Wantagh State Bikeway.

The funds projected for the Bond’s five year program are tied to a broader Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that includes many projects that are more bicycle and pedestrian sensitive due to DOT policy improvements. Adequate road shoulders, safe for bicyclists, as well as sidewalks where needed, are a component of the highway and bridge improvements scheduled in the program. Bicycle and pedestrian interest groups are working with transportation project planners to bring these improvements about. In addition, many mass transit riders strongly support the Bond Act, which addresses their needs.

Further analysis shows that the Bond Act is only a part of the total program that needs to be considered. Sixty six (66) projects listed on the State TIP (5 year program) specifically serve bicycling, trails and “greenway” interests. This list, prepared by DOT, totals nearly $190 million. The list includes projects funded by the Bond Act, as well as those funded by annually appropriated State and Federal programs. Some specific additional projects are also listed in the new Federal five year transportation program SAFETEA.  These projects that are needed for safety, health, and transportation equity in many NY communities deserve strong support so national fiscal strategies do not cannibalize them.