Video Script

This video was made for the open houses conducted for the Long Island Transportation Plan 2000 Study, or LITP2000 during May-June, 2001 in twelve communities throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Transportation on Long Island, it’s something everyone loves to talk about, right up there with education and taxes. We're on the move, and we're in a region that just keeps growing. Mobility is a very demanding issue—one we can't ignore.

Nearly 2.7 million people choose to live on Long Island—just like you and I. Within the next 25 years, there will be even more people with more houses, creating more jobs and even more travel. We project that our population will grow by 15% to 3.1 million people, 25% more households, 30% more jobs and nearly 30% more cars on the road than today.

So, how will we manage this traffic growth and still maintain the quality of life we all enjoy? Obviously, you care about the answer or you wouldn't be here today. And we're glad you are here. Because today, we're here to show you a new proposal for Long Island's transportation future that was developed over the last few years. The LITP2000 Study was undertaken to tackle developing effective transportation solutions.

Forty transportation experts and Long Island leaders have led the LITP2000 study as members of the Technical Advisory Committee. Committee members include representatives of the state legislature and all of Long Island's counties, towns, and cities. Also included are individuals from the public, the business community, academic institutions, and Long Island's transportation providers.

Over 500 suggested solutions from the public, transportation agencies and other stakeholders were reviewed, discussed, and put to a scientific test using the most advanced computer-program methodologies available.

And, one of the top transportation planning firms in the U.S. was hired to help analyze and plan for our future. We hope you agree that Long Islanders deserved nothing less than this very thorough examination of the possible options. Now it's your turn. Today, we'd like you to review the proposed plan and provide us with your comments.

But first, let's take a look at Long Island's unique transportation issues. Where our traffic has come from, and what the future may bring.

Long Island is no longer just a bedroom community for New York City—most people both live and work here. Today, more than one million Long Islanders travel during the morning rush hours, but fewer than 12% go to Manhattan and only about 12% to Brooklyn or to Queens or beyond. Almost 80% of us start and end our travel within Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The LITP2000 study has focused on solutions that can help us get around better within Long Island.

Between 1970 and 1995, Long Island's population was stable, growing only 3.7% over those 25 years. Yet, during that same period, Long Island auto registrations grew by 58% and the total vehicle miles driven grew by 110%. We are traveling more and we're making more stops in our daily routines.

If current driving trends continue, traffic congestion will increase at an alarming rate. This would happen even if an additional travel lane were added in each direction along every major highway and arterial roadway on Long Island. So, the traditional approach of simply building more lanes on our roadways will not solve our future congestion problems.

Long Island is a region at a crossroads. We know it's time for us to define responsible strategies to handle traffic and manage congestion, and to recognize that land use, transportation, clean air, and quality of life are all inter-related.

Getting traffic to flow smoothly in many portions of Long Island is complicated, if not daunting. The fact is we are going to have to move more people in fewer motor vehicles. New thinking, realistic planning, and a commitment to change have become necessities. Finding holistic, workable, effective and affordable approaches to manage traffic congestion is our challenge.

At the direction of the study's Technical Advisory Committee, we're going to look at a new transportation strategy, which the Committee has endorsed for you to review. And, this Committee wants your feedback on this strategy.

It's very important to understand that getting to this point required a tremendous amount of hard work. It involved significant transportation planning expertise combined with exacting technical evaluation, which was then coupled with substantial input from the general public. All of this has been woven together to develop the solutions that will work best for Long Island's future.

The LITP2000 study was kicked-off in November 1997 with a live-broadcast televised meeting about transportation on Long Island. More than 100,000 Long Islanders watched, 100 participated in studio audiences and 1,000 people called in with ideas, comments and questions. Since then hundreds of people—including volunteers from the general public—have been involved in developing the study's congestion management solutions.

Long Island's traffic congestion results from a complex mix of factors—and so does the search for viable options. We all need to keep in mind that a congestion-management plan will be implemented over time—not overnight. It must address the problems of tomorrow, not just the problems of today. In finding solutions, we have to ask ourselves:

First, will it have a measurable effect on moving people and goods better?

Second, will it be in line with what we want for our quality of life? Does it conform with our local, county or state plans for our communities? Does it coordinate land use for future development and transportation services?

And, finally, paying for it – is it a solution we can afford and can adequate funding be found? It was decided that any future transportation plan must provide a positive answer for all of these questions.

The LITP2000 study shows that congestion relief must start with an entirely new and different method of travel, a Long Island Rapid Commute system, which will provide a unique, fast, and reliable travel option that would link major destinations within Long Island. This concept relies on improving Long Island’s roads to make the transit and highway systems work together better.

It was clear to the study team that transit improvements should be given first priority. Transit systems that better serve people's needs will help reduce the number of people who drive alone during the rush hours. Using sophisticated technical procedures, linkages were identified between major origins and destinations within Long Island where most travel takes place. In other words, the Long Island Rapid Commute system will have routes where mass transit solutions make the most sense.

Next, highway improvements were identified, but only for locations where transit improvements wouldn't alone eliminate future congestion. To help identify which roadway improvements would be helpful in the future, the LITP2000 Study Team met with each town supervisor, planning department or highway department to identify local roadway improvements.

As a result, the recommended plan incorporates current town assumptions of no significant changes in land use and provides an achievable balance of highway and transit solutions that will improve our future mobility—while protecting our cherished quality of life.

The Long Island Rapid Commute transit system is the linchpin holding together the various elements of a new Long Island transportation system for the future. As envisioned, the system will provide frequent, reliable service using modern, comfortable Rapid Commute Vehicles, like a traditional rail system.

Unlike a monorail or train that runs on rigid configurations of fixed metal rail, the Rapid Commute Vehicles—or R-C-Vs will have rubber tires and will travel on our roads. RCVs can circulate through select neighborhoods to pick up passengers, go to new Park and Ride lots—or to new stations --which will be developed as demand for the service grows.

When this system was evaluated with the Study's computer models and compared to a fixed rail system such as light rail or monorail, the over-the-road RCVs performed significantly better because of their flexibility, shorter travel times and reduced transfers.

When traveling on other major roads, the Rapid Commute Vehicles will be able to go around cars waiting at red lights by driving safely along a portion of the shoulder designated for RCV use. Using automatic electronic communication, the RCVs will also be able to "tell" the traffic-signal system when they are approaching a red light. As conditions permit, a green light will be provided so the RCVs won't have to wait any longer than safe, smooth traffic flow requires. In the dense, more congested areas of Long Island, new stations and park & ride lots would be constructed to conveniently serve travelers' needs.

The vision for Long Island is to use the L-I-E H-O-V lanes as one component of the Long Island Rapid Commute Priority System and to build 60 new miles of Priority Lanes on the Northern, Sagtikos, Southern and Meadowbrook Parkways as well as on Suffolk Route 97. The system would be complemented with feeder routes that would radiate from the main routes.

When fully implemented, the Long Island Rapid Commute system would be capable of serving at least 50,000 people during peak commuting hours. But in order to accomplish this and keep Long Island a truly livable region in the years to come, we will also need to improve 130 miles of the roadway system in a manner that is consistent with the recommendations made by your local town officials.

The proposed plan would also include bicycle, pedestrian, and goods movement improvements. For example, new bike and pedestrian routes would link with railroad stations, and a new major freight facility that would enable more freight to be moved on and off Long Island by train rather than by truck. These approaches will help create holistic, integrated transportation solutions for Long Island.

The plan for the Long Island Rapid Commute system, using modern RCVs with complementary roadway, freight, bicycle and pedestrian improvements came out on top in the Study compared to other alternatives that were reviewed during the technical evaluation. What other alternative concepts were evaluated? One combined the LIRC system with value pricing toll strategies, where a toll would be charged during peak travel times for those traveling alone in their cars on certain roadways. This toll would encourage people to travel outside of rush hours, to form car or vanpools, or to take the LIRC system.

A 3rd alternative included about 220 miles of roadway improvements coupled with carpool lanes on the Southern State Parkway. And a 4th alternative would improve the same roads, but would also add High-Occupancy-Toll or HOT lanes along 12 miles of the Northern State Parkway. A HOT lane would charge motorists that drive alone during rush hours, while car-poolers would ride for free.

Not one of these other alternatives proved to be as effective as the proposed plan built upon the Long Island Rapid Commute transit system. It was very clear that roadway improvements alone would not substantially relieve congestion, and that roadway pricing strategies would result in intolerable congestion on the parallel roadways and local streets.

We need to stress that this concept is a preliminary recommendation. It'll be about a year until the Study is completed. During this time, the preferred LIRC concept will be refined and its cost further evaluated in even more detail. It will be reviewed by the technical advisory committee and will be discussed with Long Island residents --- people like you, whose opinions are important.

We hope you'll agree with the LITP2000 study team that this plan has the ability to meet so many of our traffic congestion needs. A transportation system such as LIRC will help us continue to enjoy Long Island tomorrow, as much as we appreciate all it has to offer today. Remember, your involvement is key and we want to know what you think. Thank you for caring enough about Long Island's future by attending today.