New York Daily News

Hey, pols, put fixes on fast track!

- BY DAN RIVOLI TRANSIT REPORTER

Funding the overhaul of the city's decaying, delayed subway system should be the top priority of anyone running for office in New York, transit advocates said Tuesday.

Eight transit groups, including the Straphange­rs Campaign, Transporta­tion Alternativ­es and the Riders Alliance released their wish list of transit policies for candidates running in every state post — including the governor and Legislatur­e.

Paramount to all is paying for NYC Transit President Andy Byford's subway makeover plan called Fast Forward, which could cost up to $37 billion over 10 years. The prime way to bankroll it would be a congestion pricing plan on drivers. Lawmakers passed a congestion fee on for-hire trips in Manhattan below 96th St. in a budget deal reached in March.

“Eight of New York's leading transporta­tion advocates have come together to tell candidates running for state office — this is how you fix transporta­tion in New York,” Riders Alliance director John Raskin said. “The question voters should be asking the candidates is, are you on board?”

Other priorities on the sixpoint list are the expansion of lanes for bus and Access-A-Ride vehicles, handicappe­d accessible stations and taxis, street safety changes and protection­s for cyclists, New York funds to pay for new Hudson River tunnels and a transit lockbox to keep money from being diverted away from the MTA.

“The governor single-handedly revived congestion pricing and passed the first phase of Fix NYC, including a dedicated revenue stream to fix the subways, secured full funding for the Subway Action Plan, appointed worldclass senior leadership, and directed the MTA to develop the Fast Forward Plan,” said Cuomo campaign spokeswoma­n Abbey Collins. “We're glad transit advocates endorse our all-levers approach to improving transit service and are demanding candidates for elected office support it too and not take their tips from City Hall.”

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