TOM MURPHY's Comments

Proposed Move NY Fair Plan Legislation | Closed Proposal

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TOM MURPHY
1

NYSDOT has informed the Sunset Park Brooklyn Community Board #7 that they have no funding to replace missing cladding and paint the entire of the Gowanus Expressway(NYS's longest bridge) when they complete structural steel support repairs. When this part of the re-build is done; they are done. They walk away, and leave a rusting hulk from Bay Ridge to the Hicks Street cut. This is intolerable and I think you ought to know.

NYC Congestion | Closed Proposal

TOM MURPHY's picture
TOM MURPHY
1

The early iteration of the FAIR PLAN pointed to a funding of an upgrade to the Belt Pkwy from the VNB to JFK to allow for trucks. This would aleviate congestion on the Gowanus(I-278).

Now it is missing. Instead, the new inclusion of repair funding from the PLAN revenues of I-278 below Brooklyn Heights (which had been funded by NYS as a NYS function but last year defunded by Gov Cuomo) has been substituted. The original NYS funding went to the new Tappan Zee Bridge. This is a clear attempt by Mr. Schwartz to enlist Gov. Cuomo as a PLAN supporter at NYC motorists' expense without the benefit of any upgrade to our local roads.

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TOM MURPHY
2

I think the intent of this set-up is to get the FAIR PLAN or TOLL THE LAST FREE EAST RIVER BRIDGES or END BRIDGE SHOPPING or RE-GIGGER CONGESTION PRICING or whatever it will be called before going for a vote in Albany. That proposal in itself will be difficult enough without these onerous add-on's, all of which are opposed by motorists. Do you have any clearly motorist-friendly ideas to offer up?

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TOM MURPHY
3

Double-parking is proof that the demand for parking spots on a road exceeeds the supply. It indicates that poor parking managment is in effect. That's the major problem. Professor Donald Shoup promotes increased rates at the curb on commercial routes to disincentivize motorists who stay beyond their true economic advantage. It works. If there is off-street sites they would be fully used. However, if government is reducing both on-street and off-street spots they are creating the problem, not solving one. They will of course not admit to it. This is wrong-headed planning and will only hurt the local economy. Access to convenient and affordable parking is a necessary amenity, really a utility, especially in regional commercial areas(attract customers from afar) for which parking must be present and accessible. Not all staff, customers or visitors can use public transportation or walk or bike from where they start their trip and must return to eventually.

Parking can also be in short supply at residential areas where again demand exceeds supply. Neghborhood that may be without off-street spots or a "resident parking permits" scheme or spotty mass transit? This should never be. Professor Shoup wisely never really resolved this issue. Motor vehicle sales and in-service inventory are at record levels. Forethought counts for a lot.

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TOM MURPHY
4

The current 'iteration' releaves the State from paying what was and still is a State responsibility. The City users will now pay and the original State money is diverted to the Tappen Zee. Kind of like the NYPANY&NJ paying for the re-build of the Palaski Skyway which has attracted the attention of the US Security & Exchange Commission.

I noticed on Thankgiving Gov. Cuomo got the honor to announce the opening of the new HOV lanes on I-278 in SI & Brooklyn on Black Friday. The Gowanus has gone from six to seven travel lanes.

Of course no thank extended to the motorists and residents who continue be abused by the ongoing construction.