- New York Governor To MTA: Drop Demand For Fee From Marathon Organizer
- INRIX Advises Agencies And Motorists To Expect Heavy, Uncommon Traffic Around Monday's Eclipse
- Emergency Bridge Repair Will Force Overnight Closure Of NY Thruway Segment Near Buffalo
- India's Main Opposition Party Makes Highway Tolling An Election Issue
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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New York Governor To MTA: Drop Demand For Fee From Marathon Organizer
The New York Times reports, after news broke that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was demanding a $750,000 per year fee from the New York City Marathon organizer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) directed MTA “to fix this mess and allow the marathon to move forward as it always has.” Marathon runners have filled both decks of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge during the race since 1988, but this year MTA threatened to restrict access if New York Road Runners (NYRR) didn’t compensate the agency for the vehicle tolls that go uncollected while the span is closed for the race. NYRR had appealed directly to Hochul for support in February. It’s not yet clear if MTA will withdraw a similar demand imposed on Bike New York, the group that uses one deck of the bridge for its Five Boro Bike Tour.
New York Post also covers this development and broke the news about Hochul’s intervention. Its article includes more detail about the politics of the negotiations, as well as specific dollar figures involved. It also notes that MTA took in an extra $1.1 million from increased transit ridership during last year’s marathon.
Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York CityINRIX Advises Agencies And Motorists To Expect Heavy, Uncommon Traffic Around Monday's Eclipse
According to an INRIX blog post, expectations about traffic and travel surrounding Monday’s solar eclipse are well founded. “Drawing on insights from the Transportation Research Board, University of Maryland’s CATT Lab and INRIX’s analysis on solar eclipse traffic management,” INRIX projects:
- “unprecedented [traffic] increases in areas within the path of totality;”
- significant strain on both highways and rural roads resulting from travel in and to prime viewing;
- unusual traffic patterns driven by the path of the eclipse, with significant and uncharacteristic surges “occurring in the days leading up to April 8th and immediately following the eclipse;” and
- an increase in crash risks necessitating enhanced road safety precautions.
WTVG reports, in making preparations for an influx of visiting motorists, Ohio officials studied the 2017 eclipse event and lessons learned by states like Kentucky and Wyoming that had significant and, to some extent, unexpected mobility problems. The article notes that this year’s eclipse will have a wider path of totality crossing a more densely populated area than did the 2017 event.
WIMS republishes a news release issued yesterday by the Indiana Toll Road concessionaire and INDOT advising motorists to drive safely during the eclipse and, if they are traveling to a viewing point, to make adequate preparations, such as filling up on fuel.
Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Highway and Bridge Safety (Including COVID-19 Impacts) Indiana Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Indiana Toll Road Concession Company (ITRCC) INRIX Kentucky Ohio Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission WyomingEmergency Bridge Repair Will Force Overnight Closure Of NY Thruway Segment Near Buffalo
A 17-mile stretch of the New York State Thruway (I-90) in Chautauqua County will be closed to eastbound traffic tonight to allow for emergency bridge repair, Yahoo! News (via WIVB) reports. Westbound lanes will remain open. The bridge, between Exits 59 (Dunkirk) and 60 (Westfield) has been “severely damaged” by oversized truck strikes, at least three of which occurred in just the first quarter of this year. The article provides information about detours, which may affect early travelers to the zone of totality for Monday’s solar eclipse.
Highway and Bridge Maintenance Highway and Bridge Safety (Including COVID-19 Impacts) New York New York State Thruway AuthorityIndia's Main Opposition Party Makes Highway Tolling An Election Issue
The Economic Times reports, India’s Congress Party promises to reform the country’s tolling regime if it prevails in the upcoming national election. In an election manifesto released today, Congress maintains that Indians view current toll rates as excessive and exploitative. “The policy on road tolls will be reviewed, the party’s manifesto said. Also, formulae will be applied to determine the toll amount and the period of levy for each stretch of the road, it added.” The election process begins April 19 but votes will not be counted until June 4. Congress is the country’s main opposition party.
Associated Press reports on the Congress manifesto and the election contest.
Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation ETC Systems IndiaThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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