Suzi Oppenheimer

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Office Sought: State Senate

District #: 37 (About this District)

Political Parties:
Democratic Party


Question 1:
New York State spends fewer federal dollars on pedestrian and cyclist safety projects per capita than most other states. Ranking #44, NY spends 1% of federal funds ($0.73 per capita) on pedestrian safety, while 22.5% of New York traffic fatalities are pedestrians (over 21,000).* Do you believe that New York State should make a greater investment in pedestrian and bicycle safety and if so, how?

*Michelle Ernst and Lilly Shoup, Dangerous by Design, available at http://t4america.org/docs/dangerousbydesign/dangerous_by_design.pdf (2009).

Yes – This is an important safety priority. I support funding for the Safe Rides to Schools program, other pedestrian safety projects for communities in the 37th Senate District, and bicycle safety initiatives.

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Question 2:
Drivers with suspended or revoked licenses are nearly 4 times more likely to be in a crash and are involved in 10% of all fatal crashes in New York State. Given that 75% of drivers with suspended licenses report that they continue to drive,* do you support stronger sanctions or policies to keep these drivers off the road? If so, please list specific ideas or legislation.

*Transportation Alternatives, Terminal Velocity: New York City's Speeding Epidemic. 2009

Yes – We have already strengthened penalties in this area. Stronger penalties and increased enforcement are needed.

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Question 3:
Public transportation is integral to our region's economic and environmental health and, even with a recession, ridership is near record highs. Real estate analysis has indicated that proximity to rail transit increases property values, spurs local business growth and boosts local tax revenues.* However, cuts to state and local budgets have led to cuts in transit service and higher fares––forcing riders to pay more for less––and capital and operating needs of our system far outweigh the available resources. Beyond finding efficiencies within the regional and local transit agencies, if elected what will you do to ensure that transit is adequately funded?

*See Roderick B. Diaz, Booze Allen and Hamilton, Inc., Impacts of Rail Transit on Property Values, available at http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/media/uploads/nm/impacts_of_rail_transif_on_property_values.pdf, and Juliette Michaelson, Regional Plan Association, Transit Investment and Home Values, available at http://www.rpa.org/2005/05/transit-investment-and-home-values.html.

I have been a supporter of mass transit funding in the Senate, for many years on the Transportation Committee. In this economy, increased funding is difficult to accomplish. In 2010 we had to close a $9 billion budget gap because of decreased revenues. I will support funding and borrowing if connected to a plan to operate our mass transit systems more efficiently.

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Question 4:
The growth of freight and truck traffic is having an adverse impact on our communities -- safety, congestion, air pollution, wear and tear on our transportation routes. What would you do to address this issue, and would you support shifting more freight onto sustainable transportation modes like rail and barge?

I support shifting more freight onto sustainable transportation modes, to limit the impact on our local transportation routes.

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Question 5:
In Pennsylvania, PennDOT is taking the lead in incorporating land use decisions with transportation needs through its Smart Transportation program, redefining the mission of the Department in the process. The program "seeks to encourage transportation projects that foster sustainable communities, reduce sprawl, encourage alternative modes of transportation and reduce vehicle miles traveled."* Achieving this broad mission means ensuring that the DOT designs projects that link land use and transportation choices, target limited resources to the right projects and appropriate locations, and seek maintenance of bridges and other infrastructure first. If elected, what, if anything, would you change to ensure that the New York State DOT coordinates transportation decisions with land use?

* see http://www.smart-transportation.com/about.html

I was the chief Senate sponsor of the "State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act" which was signed into law as Chapter 433 of the laws of 2010 to accomplish these goals.

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Question 6:
In New York, the Federal Highway Administration found 37% of the state's bridges to be deficient, and 54.8% of major roadway miles to be in less than good condition.* As road and bridge conditions continue to deteriorate, funding is becoming scarcer. If elected, how will you ensure that New York's bridges and other infrastructure are safe and properly maintained?

* FHWA, National Bridge Inventory, Deficient Bridges by State and Highway System, 2009.Roads: FHWA, Highway Statistics Series 2008, Table HM-64.

I have been a strong supporter of investment in mass transit, roads, highways, bridges and our transportation infrastructure. I will continue to be an advocate for transportation as a budget priority while acknowledging the fiscal constraints that New York State is currently facing. I have articulated the view that reduced spending on transportation comes at the expense of poorer service levels and higher costs in the future when infrastructure repairs are deferred.

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Submitted by Suzi Oppenheimer on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 17:17.