Rochester - New York State Department of Transportation



NYS Advisory Panel on Transportation Policy for 2025

Binghamton, NY, Meeting Notes

August 12, 2004

A Report for the New York State Department of Transportation

Prepared by University Transportation Research Center

UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER

The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031

(Report No. BIN-081204)

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New York State Advisory Panel on Transportation Policy for 2025

Mission Statement

The New York State Advisory Panel on Transportation Policy for 2025, formed in 2004 by the NYSDOT and chaired by NYSDOT commissioner Joseph H. Boardman, is a 12-member committee that seeks to aid the department in gathering advice and insight from the public, transportation industry, and other stakeholders during the development of the next statewide transportation master plan. The panel plans to accomplish this by holding nine public hearings throughout New York State throughout June, July and August. The panel is comprised of individuals with government, transportation industry and business backgrounds, and will provide a forum for the presentation of testimony and discussion of New York State's transportation system needs and policy issues. Following the public hearings, the panel will review its findings and prepare a report this fall.

New York State Advisory Panel for Transportation Policy 2025

Wednesday, August 12, 2004 Meeting Notes

State Office Building, Binghamton

Notes prepared by University Transportation Research Center, Region 2

Panelists: Joseph Boardman (chair), Dennis Fitzgerald, Dick Garman, Pat Gilchrest, Mitchell Pally, Jim Tripp, Thomas Tranter (co-chair)

Guests: George Sinnott, NYS Bridge Authority Executive Director

BACKGROUND/FACTS

Positioning NYS

Trade, Technology and Traffic (primarily truck traffic) are factors reshaping our future and will effect how the State’s transportation system performs in five priority result areas:

• Mobility & Reliability – providing choices and predictable travel times

• Safety – reducing deaths and injuries

• Environmental Conditions – improving the environment through transportation actions

• Economic Competitiveness – the economy depends on transportation costs in New York State being competitive with our neighbors and large economic centers throughout the country and worldwide.

• Security – strengthening our ability to prevent, mitigate and recovery

There have been fundamental changes in the flow of world trade and the nature of freight (logistics – just in time deliveries) that have caused truck traffic to increase and the recent growth is expected to continue. The northeast is its own economic center contributing to travel demands as well. Congestion downstate has a financial cost upstate. Rail systems may provide some relief to highway congestion, but new policies and approaches will be needed. Without change, the impacts of trade, technology and traffic on the northeast will increase the cost of doing business, making us less competitive and lowering our quality of life. To improve our quality of life we need to win Public Trust through Environment and Energy Practices.

Regional Issues

Binghamton is a crucial link in the New York State trade corridor

• Trade - global

• Technology

• Traffic - trucks

Customer Service

In a survey of the highway system, the biggest concern was aggressive drivers

• Strategy to alter customer behavior

• Biggest changes from 1995 - 2000

o Poor pavement

o Congestion

• More concerned than the rest of the nation about congestion

• Need to separate commercial traffic from commuters

• How to respond to customer input?

POLICY ISSUES RAISED IN TESTIMONY

(Written testimony submitted by meeting participants is part of the meeting record and is supplemented by the summary)

The Environment in Which Transportation Policy/Investments Are Made

Global Nature of the Economy

Influence of Metropolitan Regions

Metropolitan economies are the backbone of the state economy, and transportation is a key factor in the redevelopment strategy of cities across the state. The state should support the needs of local transportation facilities. All traffic from state roads ends up on local roads.

One speaker suggested that the DOT adopt a plan that focuses on regional corridors and international trade corridors. The manufacturing sector relies on transportation to remain competitive.

Another speaker said the state should focus on intrastate transportation, such as providing upstate with an easy access to downstate and giving downstate an opportunity to vacation upstate.

Need for Increased Cooperation and Coordination between Agencies

A few speakers talked about how the DOT must recognize the role that MPOs play in addressing local and regional issues, and that the master plan must recognize the essential role of MPOs. The State and the various MPOs must become greater partners and take into account the multiple modes of transportation that transcend municipal boundaries.

One speaker said that the transportation network must be planned cohesively from a multimodal perspective, considering how each mode interacts with the other. Intermodal connections in urban areas should be a key part of this.

Mandates and Regulations That Agencies Must Work Under

One speaker encouraged the DOT to continue its support for disadvantaged/minority/women owned business initiatives and relationships in New York State.

One speaker thought that the DOT could improve and maintain road service, and consider the aesthetics of roadways. The speaker also felt that safety should be a top priority and there was a need for educational programs and a campaign on safety education.

One speaker urged the DOT to continue working for the preservation of historic bridges and roadways and to more consistently enforce the State Signage Program. The state should educate, partner with, and train localities in preservation of historic infrastructure and dedicate more funds to this purpose.

Finance

One speaker talked about how the only mechanism for cities such as Binghamton to improve their transportation infrastructure is through competition for federal and state funds. These mechanisms put cities at a disadvantage competing for funds to improve their transportation infrastructure. Cities end up relying more heavily on property taxes for road and bridge repair.

One speaker mentioned that New York State needed a study conducted by a public agency, similar to a study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, to assess the condition of its roads and bridges to inform the public and build public support for more funding for their repair. The likely expenditures needed for repair would be great, but the economic impact and jobs created would be substantial. This safety benefits from prepared and reconfigured roadways and bridges are substantial also.

One speaker talked about how Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding is essential to town highway departments of New York State. Costs of building and repairing roads and bridges have gone up continuously but funding for CHIPS program has not - the program funding should be tied to inflation. The speaker requested funding increases in the program and a more predictable funding timeline so that projects could be bid on earlier in the construction season.

Another speaker had these comments on funding:

• Highway user fees have been diverted to non-transportation related projects

• NYS needs to do a comprehensive study of state transportation needs

• NYS must define a secure and permanent source of funds for transportation

• Share of funds must be equitable between upstate and downstate

• Levels of funding must be in sync with increases in construction costs

• There is a need for a five-year transportation plan

• Transportation infrastructure has not received adequate funding because transportation professionals and politicians have not made it an issue and have failed to put transportation needs in the public mind

One speaker had some suggestions for funding:

• Toll roads under the condition the toll be used only on the road it is being charged for

• Increased fuel tax

• Do not raise registration rates, it is unfair to poor people and those who seldom drive

• Save money by consolidating highway shops

• Save money by building local roads to appropriate local standards

One speaker had these thoughts on local roads funding:

• The State Aid to Local Bridges (SLAB) program should be regenerated.

• Local government maintain 85% of roads and 50% of bridges in the state

• At the local level, transportation funding is discretionary and not mandated. Need the state to mandate transportation fund to be used exclusively on transportation.

• Local government receives only 15% of funds from the state transportation fund and maintains 85% of roads and 50% of bridges; there is a need for more equity of funds.

One speaker said that a more consistent transportation investment budget would promote efficient and economical return on investment and help to stabilize employment in the transportation field.

Environmental Issues

The Transportation System Itself

Competition between Logistics and Commuters for Capacity

Resource Scarcity

One speaker said the state should look at the inadequate roadways between Binghamton and Utica, and Binghamton and Ithaca.

Physical Components (Infrastructure) versus Inter-Agency Integration (Management)

A couple speakers had comments about the intersection of healthcare, the elderly and transportation:

• Health systems require a good transportation system to serve residents, especially the elderly population

• Health care cost is a concern and transportation costs make up an important percentage of the overall healthcare cost

• As people age their mobility decreases and the transportation system is important to move and bring the community to hospitals

• In the region, several transportation and volunteer services provide community transportation to hospitals. However providers are overwhelmed due to an increase in demand.

• The rural community served by hospitals is underserved due to lack of adequate transportation

• Access to quality healthcare for older persons must be taken into account in the master plan

One speaker commented on the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS):

• The use of ITS to manage New York State's roadways is important

• NYSDOT ITS system must be smart

• There is a need for good data collection across the state

• NYS must embrace technology because there are not enough resources to build new infrastructure

A couple speakers commented on the need for New York State to upgrade Route 15 to I-99 to complete the interstate that will come out of Pennsylvania. The upgrade is needed for safety reasons and to connect with I-86 and I-390 effectively.

One speaker recommended the use of contactless cards for state transit. The speaker talked about the benefits of using smart cards for the users and the providers and encouraged regionalizing of transportation fare medium.

Transportation Mode Specific Issues

Transit/Paratransit

One speaker said that public transportation must be recognized by all New Yorkers to improve mobility, enhance the environment, and relieve congestion. Transit must be a real alternative, a real choice to the solution of the transportation problem. The NYS master transportation plan could help to revive the economy of the state by improving public transportation

Rail

One speaker talked about how if the rail freight industry is to maintain its share of the forecast growth in freight tonnage in New York State (and nationwide), funding for improvements and repair is needed from the state and federal government.

Another speaker stated that New York should commit to having a permanent source of funding for the rail freight industry, similar to the program in New Jersey.

One speaker mentioned the need of NYSDOT leadership on the committee for the I-81 rail corridor (passenger rail) between NY and Pennsylvania. NYSDOT must open the dialogue with Pennsylvania.

Another speaker talked about resuming passenger rail service between New York City and Binghamton. The two possible routes would be either through Port Jervis or Scranton. The recent loss of passenger air service to New York City by a major carrier was mentioned as a reason for the need to restart this service.

A couple speakers mentioned the public need to move more freight by rail, in terms of its ability to reduce congestion and help the environment through reduced fuel usage per amount of freight moved. It was also said to be more cost-effective in the long-term and a more optimal use of assets. To that end the state should incorporate rail freight needs into the master plan.

Trucks

One speaker said that in this region farm truck breakdowns are frequent due to the bad conditions of local roads.

Airports

One speaker said that airports in the state must collaborate to find their individual niche markets and proper levels of air service in the coming decades.

Another speaker said aviation is a critical component in the transportation system of the state and to the state economy. The DOT should develop an infrastructure to support general aviation. Many of the state's airports, which generate local tax revenue, are in need of additional air carriers.

One speaker said that there is big unmet financial and management resource needs for general aviation airports. These airports are gateways to tourism and business in all corners of the state.

Pedestrian/Bicyclist

One speaker talked about the importance of safety issues, especially pedestrian crossings. University communities throughout the state have many pedestrian and bicyclist safety issues to deal with.

One speaker felt that in planning there was a need for more pedestrian access and bike paths/lanes.

Borders

Crucial Role of Security

Importance of Demand Management

The Impacts of Transportation Investments

Transportation Planning and Land Use

Economic Development Resulting from Transportation Investment

One speaker said that alternative funding needs to be examined despite other financial needs as transportation system investments result in an immediate positive impact on the economy.

Several speakers commented on the hoped-for and needed benefits from the investment in upgrading Route 17 to interstate I-86. One speaker said that a region without an interstate highway is not represented on a map and therefore “does not exist,” which makes it difficult to attract investors and tourists. The interstate is vital for economic development and would bring jobs and growth in the region. Another speaker said that economic and infrastructure development at the interchanges is vital to bringing about the expected benefits from the interstate investment.

One speaker said that the DOT must improve road signage to identify key locations to visit by tourists in the region. This will bring money and development in the region.

One speaker said that in an area such as the Southern Tier East, regional visibility and accessibility could be enhanced through highway improvements, which would also encourage economic development. Strategic regional transportation improvements and development could also be used to preserve and expand job opportunities.

Local Quality-of-Life Impacts of Projects

One speaker said that in order to secure public support for transportation improvement, education is a key.

One speaker suggested that a goal of transportation investment in a semi-rural area such as the Southern Tier East would be to improve accessibility between major communities within the region and the remainder of the state and nation.

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