In Transit newsletter: Election could have big impact on the future of transit on Long Island

As Newsday’s transportation guy, I feel obliged to remind you of one important issue to keep in mind while heading to your polling site this Election Day — the transportation system that will help get you there.

Though they've gotten less attention than some other campaign issues, the quality, safety and affordability of our region’s various modes of transportation are very much on the ballot today. Nassau and Suffolk legislators help decide how much money will be budgeted for each county’s bus system. Town supervisors set priorities for the maintenance and improvement of local roads, including filling potholes. Judges decide penalties for motorists who violate traffic laws. And Long Island’s four House members will have the opportunity to cast a vote on reauthorizing a recently expired federal surface transportation bill that will fund all kinds of physical transit infrastructure, like highways, bridges and the purchase of new LIRR train cars.

Transportation is also one of the issues at the heart of the most closely watched race on Long Island’s ballot, the one for governor. Having both sat in the executive chair, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman have already put together a resume of transportation successes and failures, and are making promises about what they’ll do to improve our commutes.

However you vote, here’s wishing you safe travels on your way to the polls today.

Transportation news

• A Long Island Rail Road train struck a person on the tracks Tuesday, causing severe delays on the Babylon Branch throughout the morning rush.
• LIRR ridership has almost fully recovered from its pandemic-era lows, which is good for the MTA’s bottom line, but not so great for riders looking for seats.
• As the clocks fall back an hour, the number of traffic crashes tends to inch forward, experts say.
• Nassau County drivers are plugging in, rather than gassing up, at a higher rate than most of the U.S., according to Census data.
• A coach bus’ collapse through the floor of a Lake Success garage has sparked three lawsuits seeking millions in damages.
• A former Garden City DMV supervisor who ran a driver’s license cheating ring that involved having her sister disguise herself as a man to take other people’s tests has been sentenced to 1 year in prison.

Travel watch

• New LIRR fall schedules taking effect Monday will include changes on all of the railroad’s branches, including earlier departure times for midday trains to accommodate planned track maintenance and station accessibility projects. More information is here.
• There will be no service on the LIRR’s Hempstead Branch this weekend due to railroad track tie replacement work. Huntington trains will serve Hollis, Queens Village, Elmont-UBS Arena and Floral Park. Bus service will connect Stewart Manor, Nassau Blvd, Garden City and Hempstead stations to trains at Mineola.

Did you know?

One proposal on the ballot in New York City today could have transportation ramifications for Long Island commuters. Proposal 3, if approved, would streamline the approval of certain transportation projects, like the addition or removal of bicycle and bus lanes in the five boroughs. The change would allow planners to move ahead with such projects without notifying certain elected officials and community boards and without consulting some public offices — if the DOT deems a project necessary based on safety data.

Do you think it should be easier for New York City officials to advance transportation projects? Let us know at transit@newsday.com.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.