TASK FORCE CHAIRS:

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PARTICIPANTS:

Anthony Campagiorni (Assistant Vice-President, Governmental Affairs and Economic Development, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation)
Alice Cheng (Principal, Cheng Solutions)
David Church (Commissioner of Planning, Orange County)
Kevin Corbett, (Vice President, Corporate Development, AECOM)
Mary Ann Crotty (President, Macro Associates)
Joel Ettinger (Executive Director, NYMTC)
Tom Fox (President, Water Taxi)
Joseph Heller (RCD Coordinator, Lower Hudson-Long Island RC & D)
Chuck Houghton (Rensselaerville Institute)
Roland Lewis President (Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance)
Angel Medina (Director, Long-Range Planning, Policy and Analysis, NYS Thruway Authority), Susan Metzger (Chair, Orange County Planning Board)
John Poorman (Staff Director, Capital District Transportation Committee)
Jean Shanahan, Transportation Coordination Committee Staff Director, NYMTC)
Jim Tripp (General Counsel, Environmental Defense Fund)
Lou Venech (Senior Manager, Transportation Policy Development, Port Authority of NY & NJ)
Tom Wakeman (Deputy Director, Center for Maritime Studies, Stevens Institute)
Jeffrey Zupan (Senior Associate, Transportation, Regional Plan Association)

FULL REPORT:
The following Vision statement and Propositions are based upon a full report (available by clicking HERE), that provides valuable information on the process that was followed, an overview of the Hudson River Valley and its existing transportation systems and its major transportation projects, and a section devoted to tools for change that will make these recommendation possible to implement.

VISION:
The Hudson Valley’s proximity to the New York metropolitan region is a key source of its economic vitality. By leveraging this with its existing transportation infrastructure assets, the Hudson Valley can fulfill its full potential as a destination for residential living, business activity and tourism.

Many communities in the southern to mid Hudson River Valley thrive because residents have access to high paying jobs in New York City. Maintaining and improving access by investing in our transportation infrastructure will ensure continued economic dynamism and growth. Without these investments, the Valley’s economic way of life will be jeopardized.

While auto-centric design dominated transportation planning in the 20th Century, more and more, communities are seeking to balance transportation options across modes. To decrease the Hudson Valley’s dependence on the automobile, communities should increase transit options and plan around transit. This will create more livable communities for residents to live, increase walking options and reduce the negative impacts of driving.

Home to scenic vistas and village centers, the Hudson River Valley is already a tourist destination for those seeking an escape from urban/suburban centers. To build on this success, the Valley should expand public transit and connections between intercity rail stations and town centers. These actions will support the already thriving tourist economy, to the benefit of the local economy.

Finally, our towns should take advantage of former manufacturing sites along the River as they become available. These sites offer prime opportunities to improve access to the water and re-create the Hudson Valley along the River.

The Hudson Valley continues to be a destination for people to live, work and visit. By satisfying the policy goals set forth by the transportation taskforce, current Hudson Valley residents can build on this success for generations to come.

Implementing these recommendations will require new sources of revenue – otherwise
they are just idle promises. A series of bold and difficult choices will have to be made about how to fund this agenda, but whatever else happens, without significant new revenue there can be no progress on any of these plans. Obtaining this new revenue will not be easy in the difficult economic times in which we live when there are so many other pressing needs. For this reason, the Task Force strongly recommends the development of a “Hudson Valley Caucus” of legislators to fight for the projects we need in Albany and Washington, and the creation of a new “Hudson Valley Manifesto” embodying these principles that all candidates for state-wide and local offices should be asked to sign.

PROPOSITIONS: (Click on the propositions below to read more and comment.)

1. SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE ASSETS OF THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY

2. LEVERAGE TOURIST OPPORTUNITIES BY INCREASING CONNECTIVITY

3. COMBAT SPRAWL BY SUPPORTING LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

4. DEVELOP TOOLS THAT WILL ALLOW FOR IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION IN THE VALLEY