Donovan Announces Strategy for Transformative Staten Island Transportation Projects

Press Release

Congressman Dan Donovan (NY-11) today announced his proposal for federal investments in two transformative Staten Island transportation projects: North Shore Bus Rapid Transit and West Shore Light Rail. In a speech to the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation's annual business conference, Donovan revealed two major requests he made personally to the House Appropriations Committee for the upcoming transportation funding bill.

Congressman Donovan said, "Staten Island has been getting short shrift for years. The City and State sink billions into new subways and better transit options for the other boroughs while we beg for the next set of hand-me-down rail cars. It's about time we were a priority."

Donovan continued, "I've personally outlined my case to the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation for targeted investments from two grant programs. This increased funding could then be accessed for the West Shore Light Rail and North Shore Bus Rapid Transit."

Donovan outlined a three-pronged strategy to obtain funding for each project. First, he proposed language for inclusion in the "committee report" that accompanies every appropriations bill. The committee report provides information about Congressional intent and preferences to the federal agencies charged with implementing appropriations bills. Donovan proposed the committee report acknowledge that "increased funding to public transit, through light rail [and bus rapid transit] projects, would help alleviate" a national transportation crisis "by reducing commute times, limiting gas emissions [and] improving health conditions."

The second prong to Donovan's strategy is to ensure Staten Island's light rail and bus rapid transit proposals don't get overlooked by requiring at least some transportation infrastructure money to be spent on high-population areas with extreme commute times. He accomplishes this by offering a provision for inclusion in the transportation appropriations bill text.

Donovan's last prong involves increased funding for the two transportation grant programs that could be used for North Shore Bus Rapid Transit and West Shore Light Rail. Those accounts are the Urbanized Area Formula Grant and the Bus and Bus Facilities Grant.

By combining increased funding for key transportation grant programs with the committee report and appropriations bill language specifying light rail and bus rapid transit as high priorities, Donovan believes he is making a strong case for major transportation investments on Staten Island.

In his speech, Donovan also his discussed work with the MTA to determine whether a two-way toll on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge would alleviate traffic congestion. At Donovan's request, the MTA is conducting a traffic analysis. If the results indicate a two-way toll would reduce Staten Island traffic, Donovan will work to pass legislation in Congress reversing the 1980s-era law mandating a one-way toll on the bridge. Further, if the results indicate an increase in revenue is likely because trucks would no longer have a free one-way ride over the bridge, Donovan will push the MTA to use the extra revenue for Staten Island transportation projects and for a resident toll discount for Southern Brooklyn.

This is Donovan's latest effort to improve transportation for Staten Island, Brooklyn, and New York City. In 2016, Donovan was integral in reversing a $100 million cut to New York City's mass transit funding.

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