2017 represents the 12th Anniversary of the ongoing proposed Nassau Hub planning efforts and study.
Millions of dollars have been spent on this study with no real progress to date.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has both five-year and 20-year long range capital plans, which are periodically updated.
Both documents clearly outline what capital funding is needed to maintain both a state of good repair for existing equipment, facilities and services, along with safety, security and any future system expansion projects and programs.
Specific costs and individual MTA operating agencies are also identified for both projects and programs.
The state Department of Transportation maintains the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
Each Metropolitan Planning Organization for every urbanized area which is affiliated with the state Department of Transportation maintains a local Transportation Improvement Program.
This includes the Nassau-Suffolk Transportation Coordinating Committee.
Both the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and Transportation Improvement Program documents contain a complete inventory of potential transportation improvement projects, respective sponsoring agency and estimated cost.
Both the Metropolitan Planning Organization and DOT maintain five-year short range and twenty year long range lists of potential capital transportation improvement projects by recipient and operating agency.
Every year, millions of dollars are spent for planning studies to research the potential for new transportation capital investments and system expansion.
This includes Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s own state Department of Transportation, state sponsored Metropolitan Planning Organizations in every major urbanized area including the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, which serves New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley; the MTA along with each operating agency including NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Rail Road and MTA Bus; Mayor Bill de Blasio’s own NYC Department of Transportation, NYC Department of City Planning and NYC Economic Development Corporation and Regional Planning Association.
Nassau County along with virtually every other city, town, county and authority which runs a transportation system periodically conducts transportation planning feasibility studies.
Collectively, every decade a complete inventory of all these agencies would reveal dozens and dozens of transportation studies worth close to $100 million in costs have been completed.
Funding for these studies comes from a variety of sources including local, city, state and federal.
Has anyone ever taken a complete inventory of all these studies?
Have they checked out the recommendations, estimated project costs, time line for implementation and identification of potential funding sources for going forward?
Who checks to see that one study is not just a duplication of a previous study for the same issue?
Since 2005, Nassau County has conducted a series of ongoing planning and environmental efforts to support a number of potential transportation improvements such as Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail or other options for the Nassau Hub.
This might connect Roosevelt Field Mall, Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, Museum Row, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the County seat in Mineola, Garden City, Hempstead and Westbury.
The cost for design, construction and implementation could easily be several hundred million dollars depending upon the transportation mode and route(s) selected.
If Nassau County can’t find several million to help NICE bus avoid service cuts, what are the odds of finding several hundred million for the Nassau Hub?
Too many transportation studies championed by numerous elected officials are nothing more than placebos designed to placate demagogues, who are not regular users of the numerous public transportation alternatives that have been available for decades.
The real problem is finding money to make things happen.
All too often funding for many studies would have been better spent on real improvements instead of just lining the pockets of consultants.
How many studies just end up on the shelf of planners just collecting dust?
How many times do we end up with a series of press conferences and news releases designed to provide free publicity for elected officials to assist them in greasing the wheels of future elections.
Too many of these same elected officials who seldom if ever use public transportation like thousands of constituents do on a daily basis promise a bright future but leave riders holding an empty bag.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
(Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the US Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office.)
