Daily News Briefs, March 13, 2024

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New Multiagency Task Force Aims To Rid NYC Streets Of Vehicles With Fake Or Obstructed Tags

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D), MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber and New York City law enforcement officials announced yesterday they are launching a joint task force “dedicated to identifying and removing so-called ‘ghost cars’ — cars that are virtually untraceable by traffic cameras and toll readers because of their forged or altered license plates — from New York City streets.” The new unit, organized by the police department’s Transportation Bureau, will conduct “eight-hour enforcement operations approximately once a month. Times and locations around the city will be chosen after analyzing toll and motor vehicle data.” The task force’s primary goal “is to remove vehicles with fraudulent or modified license plates — and those with no tags at all — from city streets, as these vehicles are often unregistered, uninsured, or stolen.” During an initial operation staged at two bridges and a tunnel on Monday, task force members succeeded in impounding 73 cars, issuing 282 summonses and making eight arrests.

Both the Daily News and NBC News New York covered the press event where officials introduced the task force and discussed its mission.

Crime Beat ETC Systems Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York City Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Scofflaws

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TRB Webinar Will Probe How Agencies Become Resilient Against Pandemic-Like Disruptions

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has scheduled a webinar for the afternoon of March 20 that will present “useful strategies for agencies to prepare and respond to future disruptions” such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers will discuss lessons learned by state transportation entities during the pandemic emergency and how they can be used to bolster organization resiliency. Examples drawn from NCHRP Domestic Scan 21-01: Lessons of Agency Resilience During Periods of Disruption will feature in the presentation.

Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Transportation and Infrastructure Research & Development Transportation And Infrastructure Workforce Issues Transportation Research Board

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Monday's Fatal West Virginia Turnpike Crash Damaged Toll Plaza. Cause Remains Under Investigation.

A state parkways authority source tells WVVA that Monday’s crash at the West Virginia Turnpike’s Ghent toll plaza involved a passenger van and three other vehicles and resulted in three deaths. The fire caused by the colliding vehicles seriously damaged three tollbooths that are expected to be repaired within days. As of yesterday, one lane of the turnpike (I-77 northbound) remained closed from approximately exit 28 to the toll plaza, but two toll plaza lanes were still operating.

WVNS reports today that state police have not yet determined the cause of the incident, which remains under investigation. A police spokesman confirmed the reported number of deaths, adding that police are still in the process of identifying victims and making notifications.

Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) West Virginia West Virginia Parkways Authority (West Virginia Turnpike)

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These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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