My name is Tiffany-Ann Taylor and I’m the Vice President for Transportation for the Regional Plan Association (RPA). I’m pleased to testify at today’s hearing on behalf of my organization and in support of more initiatives that further transportation equity throughout New York City.
Equitable transportation planning and infrastructure building must remain a priority for both NYC DOT and the MTA. Transportation deserts, aging infrastructure and underinvestment persist in many neighborhoods. The pandemic further illuminated these disparities and as the city continues to recover, this is a watershed moment to creatively address these challenges.
To enhance air quality, reimagining the BQE, implementing Congestion Pricing, and expanding programs like Citi Bike and the NYC Clean Trucks program can have an impact. Re-envisioning the BQE can help reverse the generational harm it has caused to surrounding neighborhoods. Congestion Pricing will reduce traffic congestion and its negative externalities. Prioritizing historically underserved areas with expanded Citi Bike options and expanding available funding for the replacement of older diesel fuel trucks as part of the NYC Clean Trucks program will further advance the City’s goals as set forth in the Roadmap to 80x50.
Street safety must remain a priority for the current administration. With changing commutes and reconfigured streets in response to the pandemic, equitable enforcement and design is more important than ever. Traffic related fatalities have increased across the city. While intersections and bike lanes are being enhanced with more protection–additional, equitable enforcement is necessary to save lives. RPA supports the call for City authority over speed cameras as they have proven to reduce serious crashes at intersections. Other design enhancements for universal accessibility should be incorporated throughout all of DOT’s domain and MTA’s infrastructure.
Lastly, in order to ensure equitable system accessibility, discounted fares go hand-in-hand with better bus service. While we are supportive of Mayor Adams’ continued commitment to the Fair Fares program, more funding is necessary to match or surpass pre-pandemic levels of funding. Additionally, the City should increase promotion about the program, as many who are eligible are not using it. We urge the Mayor, DOT and MTA to continue to prioritize bus service with more dedicated bus lanes, camera enforcement, street design priority and route redesign.
All of the priorities I have outlined today can also be found in NYC DOT’s Streets Plan. Goal #2 of the plan is to ‘incorporate equity into NYC DOT’s programs and projects’. This means that the City has a current blueprint for how transportation enhancements should be more equitably implemented citywide. We implore the City and State to continue working together to use all the tools at their disposal to prioritize transportation equity for New Yorkers who need it most.
