ON THIS MONTHS EDITION OF CONNECT NEW YORK, WERE EXPLORIN ALTERNATIVES TO MOTOR VEHICLES EVERYTHING FROM PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GETTING AROUND ON FOOT HERE IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

ALL THAT AND MORE ON CONNECT NY.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

ON THIS MONTH'S EPISODE WE'RE DISCUSSING ALTERNATIVES TO PERSONAL MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE EMPIRE STATE.

DURING THE PROGRAM WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE HEAD OF CENTRO - THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY - TO LEARN ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSIT HERE IN THE SYRACUSE AREA, BUT FIRST LET ME INTRODUCE OUR PANEL FOR TODAY, AND WE'RE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY MIGUEL VELAZQUEZ, CEO OF THE OCHESTER-GENESEEE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, NEIL MILCAREK-BURKE, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, AND BAXTER HANKIN, FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE SYRACUSE URBANISM COLLECTIVE.

WELL FOR STARTERS, I'M CURIOUS WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER NEW YORKERS OUTSIDE OF THE BIG APPLE CAN EASILY EXIST WITHOUT THEIR OWN CAR.

AND OUR SHOW PRODUCER, ALEC AMBRUSO, POSED THAT QUESTION TO CHRISTOPHER TUFF, THE RECENTLY INSTALLED CEO FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.

>> THERE IS A FUTURE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND NOT HAVE A CAR.

(HORN HONKING) CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOLKS DOING THAT TODAY.

THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY IN LIVING AS MORE PEOPLE ARE LIVING DOWNTOWN, THEY HAVE ABANDONED THEIR CARS BECAUSE THREE KNOW THERE IS TRANSPORTATION TO GET THEM TO LOCATIONS.

OUR JOB NOW IS TO ENHANCE THAT.

HOW CAN WE GET THEM THERE MORE FREQUENTLY AND MORE RELIABLE WITHOUT A SCHEDULE OR LOOKING AT THE APP.

I KNOW A BUS IS COMING IN A FEW MINUTES.

SO MIGUEL, THE IDEA OF LIFE IN UPSTATE COMMUNITY PREDOMINANTLY AN URBAN COMMUNITY LIKE SYRACUSE, ROCHESTER, HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO MAKING THAT IDEA OF LIFE WITHOUT A CAR NOT JUST MAYBE IDEALISTIC BUT MORE PRACTICAL AND FEASIBLE FOR A LARGER SHARE OF THE POPULATION?

>> WE ARE AS CLOSE AS WE WANT TO BE AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S THERE.

IT'S NEEDED.

OUR COMMUNITIES REALLY NEED THAT SERVICE AND THEY'RE BEGGING FOR THAT CONVENIENCE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT JUST LIKE CHRIS SAID.

OUR BIGGEST HURDLE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU AND YOU MAY THINK IT'S A BROKEN RECORD BUT IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SAID IT ON YOUR SHOW IS FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

HAVING THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND FUNDING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FUNDING, THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY USER GENERATED FUNDING.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MONEY FROM STATE GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WHERE THEY CAN PROBABLY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

MOST OF OUR FUNDING, ESPECIALLY FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK, MOST OF THE AUTHORITIES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK ABOUT 50 TO 55%-OF-THE-FUNDING OPERATING FUNDS COMES FROM THE STATED OF NEW YORK.

THAT'S OUR LIFELINE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

>> ACTUALLY YOU ARE A LOCAL GUY, YOU HEARD THE VISION FROM A LOCAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY LEADER HOW DOES THAT SQUARE UP WITH YOUR BELIEVING OF THE LANDSCAPE IN YOUR AREA?

>> THE LANDSCAPE IS CHALLENGING IN THE SYRACUSE AREA.

I PERSONALLY LIVE DOWNTOWN.

I DON'T HAVE A CAR.

I BIKE.

I TAKE TRANSIT.

THE TRANSITED DOESN'T ALWAYS GET ME WHERE I NEED TO GO WHEN I NEED TO GO THERE SO I BIKE MORE THAN I TAKE THE BUS.

TRANSIT TO GET PLACES IS POSSIBLE.

IT'S DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW BUT PEOPLE CAN DO IT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO DO IT BY CHOICE AND EVEN MORE WHO DO IT BY NECESSITY.

AND IT'S POSSIBLE TO BIKE AROUND TOWN.

AT THE CENTER OF TOWN I CAN GET ANYWHERE ON A BIKE WITHIN 15 TO 25 MINUTES WITHIN CITY LIMITS SO THAT COVERS A PRETTY WIDE AREA.

AND IT'S STILL A CHALLENGE THERE BECAUSE THE BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BUILT WHERE IT EXISTS, ISN'T VERY SAFE AND THERE IS A LOT OF STREETS WHERE IT'S A LITTLE BIT PERILOUS TO BIKE ON.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF WALKABILITY, WE HAVE SIDEWALKS MOST PLACES IN CITY LIMITS AND SOME PLACES OUTSIDE, BUT SOMETIMES THERE ARE SEVERAL CRITICAL MISSING CONNECTIONS WITH SIDEWALKS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

THE REGIONAL MARKET COMES TO MIND, FOR EXAMPLE, AND OTHER... >> SHOULD PROBABLY BE A HOTSPOT FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO GET PLACES.

INTERESTING.

FROM A CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, IS THERE A VESTED INTEREST IN TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS TYPE OF LIFESTYLE, THE CARLESS EXISTENCE?

>> YEAH, I THINK ON ONE ASPECT, YES.

WE CERTAINLY STRIVE TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT IS FULLY ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT AN AUTOMOBILE , BUT WE ALSO ALREADY ARE, IN MANY ASPECTS, WE HAVE A QUARTER TO A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION WHO DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A MOTOR VEHICLE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

FOLKS ARE ALREADY LIVING THIS LIFESTYLE.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS TO WHAT IS BEING OFFERED CURRENTLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSIT.

WHEN IT COMES TO WALKABILITY AND BIKEBILITY AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS.

WHAT WE ARE STRIVING TO DO BOTH FROM A PUBLIC TRANSIT PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO FROM A MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE PERSPECTIVE IS TO TO SUPPORT THE FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING THIS LIFESTYLE AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO TAKE UP THAT MANTLE AS WELL IT'S NOT ABOUT ALL OR NOTHING.

WE ARE AT A PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE I THINK WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY YOUNGER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, LOOK TOWARDS THE CAR LIFESTYLE.

MAYBE YOU DON'T NEED TWO CARS.

MAYBE THE WORK TRIP IS ONLY A MILE AND A HALF.

YOU NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS THAT CLOSE.

IT SUDDENLY BECOMES A LOT LIGHTER OF A LIFT.

SO I THINK THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE LIKE TO TRAVEL IN.

>> IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S PRIMARILY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD A CAR AND THEN PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY CAN AFFORD A CAR BUT EITHER BECAUSE THEY'RE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS OR MAYBE THEY JUST LOVE BIKING OR THEY LOVE WALKING TO WORK, THEY HAVE TRIED TO NOT UTILIZE A CAR.

SO MIGUEL, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, IS THERE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT SORT OF CLASS DIVIDE WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING LIKE PUBLIC TRANSIT, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS A FOCUS AND NEEDS TO BE BRIDGED AS WELL.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF PUBLIC TRANSIT?

>> YES AND YES.

I MEAN WHAT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IS 82% OF OUR CUSTOMERS IN ROCHESTER DO NOT OWN A CAR.

SO IT'S A NECESSITY.

>> AND THE ASSUMPTION IS THEY DON'T OWN A CAR BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, DON'T HAVE PARKING SPOTS?

>> 40% OF OUR CUSTOMERS MAKE LESS THAN $15,000 A YEAR.

1-5.

60% MAKE LESS THAN $25,000 A YEAR.

AND 90% OF OUR CUSTOMERS MAKE LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR SO IT IS A BIG DEED.

WE ARE DRIVING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, WHO IT IS A NECESSITY FOR.

BUT TO YOUR POINT, IT'S A GREAT WAY OF LIVING.

IT'S A GREAT WAY OF MOVING AROUND SO IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENT BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS AND FOR THOSE WHO MAKE A CHOICE, IT'S A GREAT LIFESTYLE AND A GREAT WAY TO MOVE AROUND.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD TAKE FOR WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF PUBLIC TRANSIT.

IS IT THE FIELD OF DREEMSZ MANTRA.

IF THEY BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME OR DID THE PUBLIC TRANSIT INSTITUTION WAIT FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO DEMAND THESE SERVICES BEFORE THEY MAKE MAJOR INVESTMENTS?

>> I THINK IN THE CONTEXT OF BUSES THAT SOMETIMES DON'T RUN VERY FREQUENTLY AND SOMETIMES DEPENDENT ON-- DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, AREN'T TAKING THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE TO GET THERE.

THAT'S THE SYSTEM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF CHALLENGES WITH FUNDING AND HIRING BUT PEAGE WANT TO TAKE-- HIVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE THE BUS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DRIVE BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST CONVENIENT WAY TO GET SOMEWHERE BECAUSE THE BUS IS VERY FAR BEHIND AS A SECOND OR THIRD OR FOURTH OPTION AS TO HOW TO GET SOMEWHERE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THE OPTION TO TAKE THE BUS AND WE SEE THAT DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR LIKE WITH THE STATE FAIR WHERE THE BUSS GO TO THE STATE FAIR AND SUDDENLY YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME DIVIDE YOU HAVE FLOW BECAUSE THE SERVICE IS CONVENIENT.

IT'S THE MORE CONVENIENT OPTION IN SOME WAYS AND RELIABLE AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I LIKE TO TAKE THE BUS, MY FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE BUS AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE BUS COMES ONCE EVERY 30, 40, 50 MINUTES AND IT JUST IS DIFFICULT TO COORDINATE THE TIME GOING TO SOMEWHERE AND COMING BACK.

>> MIGUEL, WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF SPECIAL EVENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, ROCHESTER HAS A LOT OF MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS AND CAN YOU CATER AROUND THESE TYPES OF SCHEDULES IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

IF YOU HAVE A BIG FESTIVAL?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MORE OF A FOCUS FOR THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES?

>> WE DO.

WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO EVENTS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

LIKE BAXTER SAYS, THAT EXPOSES PEOPLE TO A SYSTEM THAT WORKS.

BUT I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING HE SAID IF I COULD.

>> PLEASE.

>> OUR MISSION AT ROCHESTER, WHICH IS NOT DISSIMILAR FROM ANY OTHER PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS, IS FIRST OF ALL TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM SAFE.

SECOND TO MAKE IT RELIABLE, RIGHT THAT THE BUS IS GOING TO BE WHERE THE BUS SAID IT IS GOING TO BE OR THE SCHEDULE SAYS IT IS GOING TO BE ON TIME.

THIRDLY THAT IS CONVENIENT.

TO BAXTER'S POINT, IT IS A CONVENIENT SYSTEM AND THAT MOSTLY TRANSLATES INTO FREQUENCY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THEN HAVE TO WAIT THERE AN HOUR TO GET BACK HOME.

ONE ANALOGY WE USE IN THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.

IF YOU OWN A CAR, WHAT IF YOUR CAR ONLY TURNED ON EVERY 45 MINUTES.

YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

YOU ARE THERE FIVE MINUTES BUT HAVE TO WAIT 45 MINUTES-FOR-THE CAR TO TURN ON.

IT IS NOT CONVENIENT.

HAVE YOU TO MAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM CONVENIENT.

AND FINALLY TO THE CUSTOMERS, NOT THAT OUR CUSTOMERS CARE BOUGHT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE, OF COURSE FROM A FUNDING PERSPECTIVE AND FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.

BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE IT SAFE, RELIABLE AND CONVENIENT.

>> ANOTHER ASPECT TO THIS IS MAKING SURE THERE ARE LAND USE POLICIES THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF TRANSIT.

SO THE MORE DENSE AN AREA IS, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS IT CAN SUPPORT FIXED ROUTE TRANSIT.

WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AFTER WORLD WAR II IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS COUNTRY IS A WHOLE KIND OF SPREADING OUT AND DEDENSIFYING, REMEDIATING OUR EXISTING URBAN AREAS TO BE LESS INTENSE, LESS DENSE.

AND THOSE THINGS REALLY PUT THE PRESSURE ON FIXED ROUTE TRANSIT.

SO IF WE ARE LOOKING TO SERVICE AN AREA, SAY, LIKE ERIE BOULEVARD HERE IN SYRACUSE, WHICH HAS A LOT OF BIG BOX STORES.

THOSE ARE MAJOR DESTINATIONS, MAJOR EMPLOYERS, THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY HAPPENING THERE, BUT IT IS HARD OFTEN TO SERVICE THOSE PLAZAS, THOSE CENTERS BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET YOU TO THE FRONT DOOR OF WAL-MART, THAT'S A DEVIATION OFF OF THE MAIN ROAD.

IN ORDER TO GET YOU ACROSS THE STREET TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE GROCERY STORE, THAT'S ANOTHER DEVIATION OFF THE MAIN ROUTE.

IN THOSE DEVIATIONS, THEY ADD UP AND GET BACK TO THE POINT ABOUT HOW FREQUENT IS THIS BUS?

HOW CONVENIENT IS IT FOR ME?

HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE ME TO GET FROM WHERE I'M GETTING ON TO WHERE I NEED TO GO AND I THINK THE LAND USE DISCUSSION IS SOMETHING THAT IS OFTEN NOT ELEVATED HIGH ENOUGH IN THESE DISCUSSIONS AND IT'S NOT AS IF THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY CAN COME IN AND WAVE A WAND AND SAY WE ARE GOING HAVE TRANSIT SUPPORTED DENSITY AND NEW DEVELOPMENT EVERYWHERE BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACET OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT SORT OF SUPPORTIVE LAND USE, THE SUPPORTIVE ZONING POLICIES, IT MAKES RUNNING TRANSIT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

>> AND I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE IDEA OF PLANNING AND THE IDEA OF LAND USE, BUT FIRST, YOU BROUGHT UP THE IDEA OF MAYBE DOOR TO DOOR DROPOFF AND HOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY REALISTIC.

I THINK ABOUT WHEN I GR TO NEW YORK CITY A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR AND I DON'T THINK TWICE ABOUT WALKING MULTIPLE BLOCKS TO GET TO A SUBWAY STATION.

IRDON'T SAY I'M NOT LEAVING MY HOTEL TODAY OR I'M GETTING A TAXI BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO A FEW BLOCKS.

SO BAXTER IS THERE A MIND SET CHANGE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AS WELL BECAUSE IF YOU LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT GOING MANY, MANY BLOCKS, YOU DEFINITELY DON'T THINK ABOUT THE LENGTH OF A SUBWAY RIDE.

SO DO WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THE PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK CITY COME UP HERE AND DO A BOOT CAMP FOR PEOPLE TO GET USED TO THIS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK PARTIALLY A MIND SET CHANGE BUT ALSO PARTIALLY IT'S THE WAY THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HERE DESIGNS.

THE REASON THAT WALKING A FEW BLOCKS IN NEW YORK CITY FROM THE TRANSIT STOP-- >> I GUESS YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SIDEWALKS HERE MAYBE?

>> WELL NOT WALK SIDEWALKS BUT THE REASON THAT WALKING A FEW PLOX IN NEW YORK CITY FEELS DOABLE IS BECAUSE IT IS, THE CITY IS DESIGNED TO FEEL VIBRANT AND INTERESTING AND SORT OF A PLEASANT WALK THAT MAKES SENSE.

YOU ARE PASSING STORE FRONTS, THERE ARE PEOPLE AND THINGS TO LOOK AT.

THERE ARE BUILDINGS CLOSE IN YOUR FOREGROUND SO THAT YOU ARE MOVING-- YOU APPEAR TO BE MOVING BY THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE PASSING QUICK QUICKER.

>> KNOCK-OFF ROLEXS?

>> YES.

>> AND WHEN YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH A PARKING LOT, IT'S MORE MONOTONOUS, IT'S EMPTY.

YOUR SURROUNDINGS ARE FURTHER AWAY FROM YOU, SO WITH EACH STEP, YOU ARE SEEING MORE OF THE SAME INSTEAD OF FEWER THINGS AND INTERESTING WALK, I THINK, IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO NOT GET BORED IN THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TRANSIT STOP AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

>> MIGUEL YOU ARE CLEARLY INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT NEIL'S POINT.

>> BOTH OF THEM.

IN PUBLIC TRANSIT WE SEE THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKS WHERE YOU HAVE THE THREE DS.

>> DAVID, DENSITY... >> NOW WE HAVE FOUR.

BUT IT'S DENSITY, DIVERSITY AND DESIGN.

AND IT'S THE DENSITY OF PEOPLE, SO SUBURBAN SPRAWL IS OUR BIGGEST ENEMY BY FAR IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE DENSITY OF PEOPLE, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT DIVERSITY OF DESTINATIONS, YOU HAVE ENTERTAINMENT, YOU HAVE JOBS, YOU HAVE HEALTHCARE, YOU HAVE SHOPPING.

WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THOSE, THAT DIVERSITY AND THAT DENSE AREA AND THEN THE DESIGN.

LIKE BAXTER WAS SAYING THAT IS SAFE, EASY TO GET ACCESS TO NOT ONLY PUBLIC TRANSIT BUT TO BICYCLES, TO BIKING, TO YOU CAN WASSING, TO ALL THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S WHERE PUBLIC TRANSIT REALLY THRIVES.

>> BAXTER, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DESIGN, WE ARE DEFINITELY AT AN IMPORTANT INFLECTION POINT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICRON AND THE POTENTIAL TO SORT OF GET BACK DOWN TO THE FOUNDATION OF THIS AREA.

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE RIGHT NOW SO THAT THIS HUGE INFLUX OF PEOPLE THAT IS LIKELY COMING TO THE AREA, IS GOING TO MAYBE BE MORE INTERESTED IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND ALTERNATIVES TO PERSONAL VEHICLES?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ALREADY EXISTING COMMUNITIES; TO BRING UP DENSITY, BUT BRING DENSITY IN A WAY THAT FEELS PLEASANTLY DESIGNED SO PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, ENJOY THE DENSE COMMUNITIES THEY'RE LIVING IN.

BUT BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE INEVITABLY DEVELOPING IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL CONTEXT AND AREAS THAT PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN NATURAL LANDS, FARMLANDS, ET CETERA, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO UP FRONT THAT IS REALLY HARD TO FIX LATER IS LOOKING AT STREET GRID CONNECTIVITY.

SO WE CAN HAVE ALL THE DENSITY WE WANT, BUT IF WE HAVE CUL-DE-SACS, DEAD END STREETS, LARGE BLOCKS, YOU CAN BE JOE GRAPHICALLY CLOSE TO THE TRANSIT STOP BUT YOU CAN'T WALK THERE BECAUSE HAVE YOU TO TAKE A MASSIVE DETOUR, MAYBE YOU ARE AT THE END OF A CUL-DE-SAC.

THE TRANSIT STOP IS, YOU KNOW, 50 FEET BEHIND YOU BUT THERE IS A FENCE IN BETWEEN AND YOU HAVE TO WALK A MILE AND A HALF TO THE ENTRANCE TO YOUR SUBDIVISION AND THEN ON THE MAIN ARTERIAL STREET.

>> I'M GETTING TIRED JUST LISTENING TO THIS.

SO DENSITY AND LAND USE IN TRANSIT NEEDS TO BE PAIRED WITH CONSIDERING STREET GRID CONNECTIVITY.

IN PREVIOUSLY UNDEVELOPED AREAS, THERE ARE A COUPLE WAYS TO DO THIS.

ONE OF THEM WOULD BE A PASS TEAR STREET PLAN-- MASTER STREET PLAN, DECIDING AHEAD OF THE DEVELOPMENTS WHERE THE STREETS HAVE TO GO TO ENSURE CONNECTIVITY WITH RELATIVELY SMALL BLOCKS AND LIMITING DEAD ENDS AND CREATING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WHAT WILL, IN THE FUTURE BE NEIGHBORING SUBDIVISIONS.

BUT ALSO A SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE THAT WOULD REQUIRE SUBDIVISIONS TO HAVE A CONNECTING STREET TO ALL THEIR SURROUNDING PROPERTY LINES EVERY CERTAIN NUMBER OF FEET AND DOING THINGS LIKE THAT CAN SET THE TABLE TO MAKE TRANSIT AND WALKABILITY AND BIKEBILITY POSSIBLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> NEIL, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY AS THEY LOOK TO DEVELOP RIGHT NOW AND TRY TO BECOME MORE FRIENDLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY RELYING ON PERSONAL MOTOR VEHICLES?

>> I THINK FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS THAT WE CAN CALL ON.

THE TRADITIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT PATTERN, THE GRID WITH THE HIGH STREET AND THE SHOPS CLOSE BY AND WITH THE APARTMENTS ABOVE, WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHERE WE SHOULD BE SETTING OUR SIGHTS ON.

IT'S JUST THAT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE KIND OF UNDID A LOT OF WHAT WE HAD OVER SEVERAL DECADES.

AND SO I THINK OUR MAIN TASK IS REALLY REINSTATING THAT, BUILDING IT BACK UP.

BUT FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE WILL LIKELY HAVE AN EASIER TIME DOING THAT THAN MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US THAT MAY HAVE EVEN MORE RESTRICTIVE LAND USE POLICIES.

THAT WOULD HINDER THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT WOULD BE WELL SERVED BY TRANSIT, ESPECIALLY LIKE NODES, SUBURBAN NODES THAT COULD BE MIXED USE DESTINATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND MIRN MICRON.

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HURDLES TO GETTING THERE BUT I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS STARTING TO BE HAD AROUND PLACES LIKE SHOPPING TOWN MALL.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE THERE.

THE COUNTY HAS GRAND PLANS FOR THAT TO BE A MIXED USE CENTER TO PROVIDE NEW HOUSING, NEW JOBS, NEW AMENITIES, BUT AS WE LOOK TOWARD MICRON, WE REALLY NEED TO BE AMBITIOUS BECAUSE I THINK THE SCALE OF WHICH THE DEVELOPMENT WILL SEE IS SOMETHING WE ARE NOT USED TO HERE, AT LEAST IN OUR LIFETIMES.

WE HAVE SORT OF BEEN OR DEALING WITH DECLINE OR STAGNATION IN TERMS OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PATTERN HERE IN THE CITY.

BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE POISED FOR SIGNIFICANT GROWTH WITH THE INSTRUCTION OF INTRODUCTION OF MICRON AND OTHER BUSINESSES SO WE NEED TO BE READY TO TAKE THAT CHALLENGE ON DIRECTLY.

IT STARTS ON LAND USE POLICIES BUT IT ALSO GETS BACK TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, MUNICIPAL SIDEWALK PROGRAMS, WORKING WITH OUR TRANSIT PROVIDERS FOR THINGS LIKE BUS RAPID TRANSIT, WHICH I THINK WE'LL DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> GOOD TEASE.

>> AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT DOES ACCESSIBILITY LOOK LIKE YEAR ROUND HERE?

IT'S NO SECRET THAT IT SNOWS AND THAT WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONCERNS.

IT'S COLD.

IT RAINS.

IT SNOWS, WHATEVER, WHAT HAVE YOU.

THERE ARE SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN EMPLOY NOW THAT WE ARE ALREADY EMPLOYING AND THAT WE CAN INCREASE TO SERVE AND TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING ACCESSIBLE, WE ARE BEING APPROACHABLE YEAR ROUND, CLEARING THE SNOW FROM THE SIDEWALKS AND MAKING SURE THE BUS STOPS ARE COVERED.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING.

>> THINKING ABOUT THE IMMENSE SCALE OF NEW DEVELOPMENT WE ARE EXPECTING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER THERE IS DESIGNING COMMUNITIES TO BE WALKABLE, BIKABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED, CREATING OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION OTHER THAN THE CAR WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR THE CARS.

SOMETHING THAT THIS DOES, IF COMMUNITIES ARE DESIGNED IN THAT WAY, WE REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING UP AND WE ALSO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT PAVEMENT IS TAKING UP.

AND BY CAREFULLY PLANNING FOR THIS FUTURE, WE CAN PRESERVE OUR FARMS, OUR RURAL LANDS, FLAY TOUR PRESERVE-- NATURE PRESERVES, THE COUNTRY SIDE THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS REGION AND SOME URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE COUNTRY SIDE HAVE THIS RELATIONSHIP WHERE YOU CAN'T PRESERVE WITHOUT DENSIFYING.

SO WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PLAN FOR THAT NOW, IN CREATING MORE WALKABLE AND TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES, THEN WE WILL LOSE SOME OF THAT FOREVER.

>> MIGUEL, I'M CURIOUS, AS SOMEONE WHO DEFINITELY INTERACTS WITH STATE OFFICIALS, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE STATE'S ROLE IN UTILIZING A CARROT OR AN AGGRESSIVE STICK APPROACH TO PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS LIKE MICRON PROJECT OR LIKE THE SUBURBS OF ROCHESTER OR BLOW TO BUFFALO TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITIES ARE MORE FRIENDLY FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

IS THAT A ROLE THAT THE STATE SHOULD PLAY IN ADDITION TO DUMPING UP-- BACKING UP A DUMP TRUCK FULL OF CASH TO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES.

>> TO SOME EXTENT.

WE ARE LUCKY THAT WE HAVE TWO GREAT SUPPORTERS, ALABAMA MAGNARELLI FROM SYRACUSE AND SENATOR COONEY FROM ROCHESTER.

>> SENATOR MAGNARELLI LOVES A CAR IF HE CAN FIND ONE.

>> THEY CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF THINGS LIKE THIS IN THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND OF COURSE LEGISLATION, LAWS, THAT HELP WITH THAT ACHIEVING THAT GOAL.

BUT IT'S REALLY UP TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

>> SHOULD IT BE?

SHOULD WE USE THE STATE'S INFLUENCE TO SAY HEY, GUYS, WE ARE EITHER GOING TO TWIST YOUR ARM A LITTLE BIT OR INCENTIVIZE YOU TO MAKE THESE STEPS THAT WE THINK ARE ULTIMATELY BEST FOR THE PUBLIC?

>> SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT, I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BUT I CAN TELL YOU-- >> WHAT IF I ASK IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES?

>> TO THE EXTENT THAT THE REALITY IS THEY ARE OUR BIGGEST FUNDER, THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME SAY.

THEY'RE OUR BIGGEST FUNDER AND SO WE ARE GOING TO FUND YOU MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR TO YOU TO HAVE GOOD PUBLIC TRANSIT.

THIS IS HOW YOU CAN MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A SAY, OF COURSE.

>> NEIL MENTIONED BUS RAPID TRANSIT.

MIGUEL MENTIONED FREQUENCY EARLIER, ALL SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE THE FOCUS HERE IN SYRACUSE AND AGAIN WE ARE GOING TO CUT BACK TO OUR PRODUCER AMBRUSO, POSED THAT QUESTION TO CHRISTOPHER TUFF, THE RECENTLY INSTALLED CEO FOR THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THE IMPACT WERE LOOKING FINALIZED AND ROLLED OUT IS CERTAINLY INCREASING THE FREQUENCY AND THE EASE OF USE OF OUR SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT 40 MINUTE FREQUENCY, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING TO ENHANCE THAT TO 12 TO 15 MINUTE FREQUENCY, IT MAKES IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR OUR USERS.

WHEN YOU ARE INCREASING THE USABILITY OF IT, TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, YOUR CAR IS PARK THE IN YOUR GARAGE AND YOU CAN ONLY OPEN YOUR GARAGE DOOR EVERY 40 MINUTES TO LEAVE, THAT'S THE IMPACT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TODAY.

TO GIVE THEM EASE OF USE AND NAVIGATE THE COMMUNITY, IT'S GOING TO ALLOW A LOT BETTER USE AND RELIABILITY OF THE SERVICE THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT ON THE STREET.

SO HOPEFULLY THROUGH THAT WE ARE GOING TO START SEEING THE BENEFITS OF PEOPLE USING IT TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR, GET DOWNTOWN, REDUCE CONGESTION.

BUT ALSO AS WE ARE LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENT ALONG AREAS, WHEN THE RIDERSHIP INCREASES, YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN THAT COMMUNITY TO SEE INVESTMENT INCREASE.

SO AS WE SEE THE POPULATION, THE TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ONLY WILL IT MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER, IT WILL MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS MEMBERS TO INVEST IN A CORRIDOR BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE FREQUENCY, MORE RIDERSHIP MORE PERSONAL PURCHASES IN THAT AREA.

WE WE HOPE TO SEE THAT THROUGH THE INVESTMENT HERE.

ONE THING, WITH TRANSPORTATION, FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, IT CREATES FIVE DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC REVENUE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO AS WE LOOK TO INVEST $30 MILLION ON THIS PROJECT, WE ARE HOPEFULLY LOOKING AT $150 MILLION OF INVESTMENT SURROUNDING THAT ECONOMIC VALUE WHETHER IT BE THROUGH BUSINESS INVESTMENT OR YOU KNOW, THROUGH LABOR MARKETS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HELP SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AND HELP IT THRIVE.

>> BAXTER, BUS RAPID TRANSIT OR RAPID BUS TRANSIT AS I'M GOING TO CALL IT, HOW DOES THAT VISION SQUARE WITH WHAT YOU THINK IS THE POTENTIAL FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AND MAYBE WHAT WE SHOULD BE AIMING HERE FOR IN CENTRAL NEW YORK?

>> I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT BUS RAPID TRANSIT CAN BRING.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS THE FREQUENCY.

SO THE FREQUENCY OF B.R.T.

IS SIMILAR TO, YOU KNOWER, FREQUENCY THAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT WITH CERTAIN SUBWAY LINES IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS IT'S FREQUENT ENOUGH THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHECK THE SCHEDULE.

YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP AT THE BUS STOP AND YOU KNOW THAT THE BUS WILL BE THERE SOON ENOUGH.

AND THAT MAKES IT ALMOST AS CONVENIENT AS DRIVING.

I THINK THERE ARE STILL SOME POSSIBILITY FOR THE BUSES TO GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT THE BUS ONLY LANES THAT SOME B.R.T.

SYSTEMS HAVE.

AND I'M ALSO HOPING THAT SOME OF THE CORRIDORS IN THE CITY THAT AREN'T SERVED BY THE FIRST THREE B.R.T.

LINES, SUCH AS WE ARE MISSING AN EAST-WEST CORRIDOR.

WE ARE MISSING BUTTER NUT REGIONAL MARKET AREA AND SOME OF THE LINES, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T QUITE, AT THEIR ENDS, MAKE IT TO SOME DESTINATIONS THAT ARE PRETTY HIGH TRAFFIC.

AND MAKING SURE THAT THE REST OF THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, WHEN IT'S BEING REDESIGNED RIGHT NOW, PICKS UP WHERE THE B.R.T.

LEAVES OFF.

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I HAVE BEEN TO SYRACUSE AND NOT HEARD MAYOR WALSH OR ONE OF HIS SURROGATES CHAMPION THIS IN ANY CONTEXT NO MATTER WHAT THE EVENT IS.

SO HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS THIS FOR CITY OFFICIALS AND HOW DOES IT SQUARE WITH MAYBE OTHER PLANS THAT YOU HAVE FOR DEVELOPMENT MORE BROADLY OR JUST MAYBE THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY?

>> B.R.T.

IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AND PLANNING FOR FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

IT STARTED WITH THE REGIONAL NPO SMTC COMING OUT WITH A STUDY 10 PLUS YEARS AGO HIGHLIGHTING YES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US AND SOMETHING WE CAN STRIVE TO ACHIEVE.

SO FROM THAT POINT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING SLOWLY BUT SURELY FROM THE CENTRO SIDE MOVING THROUGH THE PLANNING PHASE, INTO THE DETAILED DESIGN PHASE, WHICH IS WHERE THEY ARE NOW.

AND ON THE CITY SIDE, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL HELP SERVICE B.R.T., THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPTION, SO MAKING SURE THAT GREEN STAYS A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO LET THE BUS MOVE THROUGH TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT CONGESTION.

IT'S NOT A MAGIC BULLET BY ANY MEANS BUT IT'S ONE OF THE SMALLER THINGS THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR THAT CAN HELP OUR INTERNAL OPERATIONS CERTAINLY, BUT ALSO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, REALLY SERVICE THE BRTS B.R.T.

LINES AND CENTRO AS A WHOLE QUITE WELL.

LEADING INTO B.R.T., THERE IS A REDESIGN PROCESS HAPPENING FOR THE ONONDAGA COUNTY BUS SYSTEM; WHICH IS TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER TODAY WHERE DO WE WANT THEM TO BE IN THE FUTURE AND HOW DO WE GET TOWARDS THINGS LIKE IMPROVED FREQUENCIES, LIMITING DEVIATIONS , IN A WORLD WHERE WE STRUGGLE TO RETRACT-- TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED CDL DRIVERS.

WE ARE OUT THERE COMPETING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WITH 81 CONTRACTORS, WITH THE STATE, YOU NAME IT.

WE ARE ALL SORT OF COLLECTIVELY GRABBING AT THE POOL OF CDL DRIVERS AND THAT IS ONE KEY VARIABLE THAT CAN BE A DETERMINING FACTOR FOR, DO YOU PUT OUT MORE FREQUENCY OR CUT FREQUENCY.

>> HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT TRYING TO DO A SPEED SCENARIO WHERE LIKE A SANDRA BULL OKAY TYPE RIDER HAS TO STEP IN AND MAYBE YOU'VE GOT THE NEXT DRIVER AND THEY NEVER EVEN KNEW IT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

WE COULD HAVE A ROUND ROBIN.

YOU GET ON THE BUS, HEY, IT'S YOUR TURN TO DRIVE.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE BUT WE ARE DOING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU COULD BE A BUS OPERATOR AS WELL.

BIG BUSES, SHORT BUSES.

WE NEED SERVICE AND CLEANERS, WEEKEND SHIFTS, NIGHT SHIFTS.

DAYTIME.

IT'S REALLY CHANGING THE MINDSET OF THE BUS BEING THE THING THAT JUST ROLLS BY TO SOMETHING THAT COULD SERVICE ME.

I COULD USE IT TO GET TO WORK.

I COULD ALSO USE IT AS MY EMPLOYMENT.

I THINK ELEVATING THE CONVERSATION AND CHANGING THE WAY THAT WE DISCUSS AND THINK ABOUT TRANSIT IN OUR COMMUNITY IS KEY.

AND THIS IS ALL PART AND PARCEL FROM WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, WHICH IS HAVE MORE FOLKS USE CENTRO.

>> MIGUEL, ASIDE FROM MY SPEED IDEA, HOW REPLICA IDEA IS THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES SO THAT IT IS NOT 10 YEARS LATER REFLECTING ON STUDIES AND HOPING TO GET THINGS MOVING ALONG?

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT IT IN ROCHESTER AS WELL.

I WISH SYRACUSE ALL THE BEST.

I KNOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF B.R.T.S.

WE CAN RELY ON THE EXPERIENCE THAT ALBANY HAS HAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE THREE OR FOUR B.R.T.S THAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

I MEAN ALBANY HAS PROVEN THAT WHEN YOU PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CONVENIENCE TO THE CUSTOMERS, IT WORKS.

ALBANY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I KNOW, I THINK THIS IS STILL THE CASE.

ALBANY IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR UPSTATE TRANSIT AUTHORITIES WHOSE RIDERSHIP IS ABOVE PRO COVID NUMBERS-- PRE-COVID NUMBERS AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN PLACE.

>> SO I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE IDEA OF FUNDING.

OBVIOUSLY THE STATE IS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE BIG SOURCES OF FUNDING MOVING FORWARD.

BUT I THINK IF SOMETHING LIKE NEW YORK CITY AND THE WAY THEY HAVE USED CONGESTION PRICING AS A FORM TO POTENTIALLY BOND AGAINST REVENUES TO MAKE MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.

IS CONGESTION PRICING SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE OR AT LEAST STUDIED FOR UPSTATE COMMUNITIES.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M QUALIFIED FOR UPSTATE COMMUNITIES.

>> YOU WOULD BE THE MOST QUALIFIED AT THE TABLE BEING THE HEAD OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

>> NEW YORK CITY, MTA IS A DIFFERENT BEAST AND WHAT CONGESTION PRICING MEANS FOR THEM.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE THE SAME MODEL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE JUST THE CONGESTION AND THE TRAFFIC THAT THEY DO.

>> IS THERE A STUDY THAT IS WORTHWHILE TO DO, WHETHER IT'S INDIVIDUALS OR BUSES OR CERTAIN TYPES OF VEHICLES OR ANY SORT OF WAY TO MAYBE DETER PEOPLE FROM COMING IN OR PROMOTE OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION ALSO GENERATE SOME REVENUE EVEN IF IT IS A LITTLE BIT.

>> SOME SOME NUMBERS HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT TO THAT POINT I THINK GOING BACK TO THE SUBURBAN OR URBAN SPRAWL, I THINK THAT IS REALLY WHERE OUR OPPORTUNITY IS TO HAVE PEOPLE HEY, IT'S NOT AS CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO LIVE SO FAR AWAY FROM THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.

AND DON'T HAVE TO DEPEND ON A CAR.

RIGHT NOW THE AVERAGE COST OF SOMEONE TO OWN A CAR IS ABOUT $12,000 A YEAR.

WHEN YOU ARE MAKING $25,000 $50,000 A YEAR, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.

SO I THINK A LOT OF WHAT NEIL AND BAXTER HAVE SAID IS GOING TO HELP.

RIGHT NOW, AS I'M HERE IN PART AS A REPRESENTATIVE AS NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION.

WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

AGAIN, ESPECIALLY UPSTATE.

RIGHT NOW NEW YORK CITY MTA HAS ALL SORTS OF REVENUE WHICH IS FEE ON CAR REGISTRATION, D.M.V.

FEE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

SO CAN WE IMPLEMENT A D.M.V.

CAR REGISTRATION FEE FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSIT IN UPSTATE?

>> BAXZSTER, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF CONGESTION PRICING OR IS THAT A SELF-DEFEATING TYPE OF POLICY AT A TIME WHEN WE WANT MORE PEOPLE IN SOME OF THESE UPSTATE COMMUNITIES?

>> I THINK CONGESTION PRICING MAKES THE MOST SENSE IN CITIES WHERE IT'S ALREADY NOT SUPER INCONVENIENT TO LIVE WITHOUT A CAR LIKE IT IS HERE.

I MANAGE IT.

OTHERS MANAGE IT, BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE HAVE IMPROVED TRANSIT AND BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS AND ALL OF THAT.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, PUNISH PEOPLE FOR DRIVING WHEN, YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO OTHER CONVENIENT ALTERNATIVE FOR THEM.

AND NEW YORK CITY, I THINK CONGESTION PRICING CAN MAKE SENSE FOR THEM BECAUSE IT IS CONVENIENT TO NOT DRIVE THERE AND HERE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT CONDITION AT THE MOMENT.

>> WELL, LET'S MAKE IT ABOUT ME BECAUSE WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING A TV SHOW IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I LIVE IN SARATOGA SPRINGS.

I DRIVE TO THE CAPITOL.

THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR ME, THE CDTA NORTH WAY EXPRESS, A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IF I WERE TO PAY TO DRIVE TO WORK.

SO IF THE CITY OF ALBANY TO ADD ON A 25-CENT A DAY FEE FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME WHO TAKES THE HIGHWAY INTO TOWN, I'M NOT GOING TO THINK TWICE ABOUT IT AND I'M ALSO USING THEIR ROADS AS AN EXAMPLE, ADDING TO THEIR COST.

WHY NOT AT LEAST STUDY SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

NEIL IS THAT SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE FOR A COMMUNITY LIKE SYRACUSE THAT HAS SUBURBAN WORKERS WHO ARE COMING INTO TOWN?

>> I THINK THE IDEA OF ADDRESSING THE COST DISPARITIES IS BIG.

AND WHILE SOME AREAS LIKE NEW YORK FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE CONGESTION PRICING, WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IS FOCUS ON SETTING THE RIGHT PRICE PER MODE.

SO IF YOU ARE DRIVING TO WORK RIGHT NOW AND YOU GET A NICE COMFY PARKING SPOT, I'M SURE YOURS IS CLEANED OFF DURING THE WINTER.

>> THANK YOU TO WCNY FOR PAYING FOR MY PREMIUM SPOT AT THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THAT COMES AT A REAL COST THAT YOU ARE NOT PAYING OUT OF POCKET AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS PAYING FOR YOU.

SO IF WE WANT TO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FEES AND OTHER THINGS, IT'S GOT TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE COME TO THINK ARE JUST PART OF THE DEAL.

SO THE FREE PARKING IS ONE OF THEM.

OR LOWER NO COST ON STREET PARKING.

THAT'S ANOTHER FACTOR.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PARK IN THE GARAGE?

MAKING SURE THOSE PRICES ARE IN LINE AND NOT OUT COMPETING OUR TRANSIT SERVICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TODAY, MAKING SURE THAT OUR TRANSIT SERVICE IS SOMETHING THAT IS MORE AFFORDABLE TO YOU, THE COMMUTER, THAN DRIVING YOUR CAR IN AND GETTING TO PARK FOR FREE.

NOW WE CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS OR PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, PRIVATE GARAGE OWNERS, WHATEVER, WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT FROM A LARGE EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE LIKE THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WHAT WE DID WAS SAY, OKAY, IF YOU HAVE YOUR CITY I.D.

AND EVERYBODY GETS A CITY I.D.

WHEN YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE, YOUR BUS FAIR IS COVERED.

NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

WALK ON THE BUS AND CENTRO SENDS US THE INVOICE.

IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL.

IT IS JUST REMOVING ONE OF THE FRICTION POINTS AND SETTING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRICING.

WHILE IT'S NOT A NET NEGATIVE.

WE ARE NOT OUT HERE CHARGING DRIVERS TO COME INTO DOWNTOWN.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU, THE TRANSIT RIDER GET THE SAME LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE GOING TO DRIVE INTO DOWNTOWN AND HAVE YOUR EMPLOYER GIVE YOU A FREE PARKING SPOT.

>> MIGUEL, NEIL'S REFERENCE TO THE IDEA OF HOW WE CONSIDER WHAT WE WANT TO PAY FOR REMINDS ME OF THE DEBATE IN NEW YORK CITY RIGHT NOW WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL NOMINEES MAMDANI, ONE OF THE CAMPAIGN PUSHES IS FREE BUSES.

THE MTA IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ANIMAL AND ITS FUNDING SOURCES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

BUT IS FREE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN SOME CAPACITY IN A LIMITED FASHION, FOR CERTAIN LINES?

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT A CONCEPT LIKE THAT?

>> THAT'S A HEAVY TOPIC.

THAT BECAME VERY POPULAR DURING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF COVID AND THE FIRST MONTHS AFTER.

SOME COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE GOING FOR FREE.

SOME OF THEM HAVE HAD TO REVERSE THAT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE FUNDS NEED TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

IN OUR CASE IN ROCHESTER AS AN EXAMPLE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY ABOUT 5% OF OUR BUDGET, THE FARE REVENUE, IT'S STILL AROUND $9 MILLION.

SO TO LOSE THAT, I MEAN THAT HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

SOMEONE HAS TO REPLACE THAT.

IT'S REAL MONEY.

AND SO THAT IS ONE AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.

>> I'M CURIOUS.

COULD YOU PIGGY BACK ON ANY LOBBYING EFFORTS THAT NEW YORK CITY MIGHT HAVE IN 2026?

BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A POINT OF DISCUSSION AND WHAT WE SAW IN THE PAST WAS THAT NEW YORK CITY ENDED UP HAVING IN EACH BOROUGH, TWO FREE BUS LINES AS PART OF THE PILOT PROGRAM PAID FOR BY THE STATE.

DO YOU TURN TO STATE SENATOR JEREMY COONEY OR ASSEMBLYMEMBER BILL MAGNARELLI, IF NEW YORK CITY IS GOING TO GET SOME OF THIS, WHY DON'T WE TRY IT IN UPSTATE COMMUNITIES AS WELL?

IS THERE LOBBYING TO PIGGY BACK ON IN THAT CASE OR WOULD YOU WANT TO USE YOUR POLITICAL CAPITAL MAYBE FOR OTHER STUFF?

>> YES AND YES.

WE PIGGING BACK ON MEAPT ALL THE TIME.

LET ME TELL YOU THAT, WHATEVER IS CONVENIENT AND WE THINK IS GOING TO HELP US BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

OUR CUSTOMERS ARE THE SAME.

WE THEY NEED AND DESERVE THE SAME TREATMENT.

OUR CUSTOMERS ARE NO DIFFERENT AND NO LESS IMPORTANT THAN AN MTA CUSTOMER.

WE KEEP THAT IN MIND ALL THE TIME.

GOING BACK TO FREE FARES, THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE UPSTATE COMMUNITIES DO, WE LOOK TO SEE HOW WE CAN PROVIDE FREE FARES FOR SOME DISADVANTAGE THE COMMUNITIES AND WE WORK REALLY HARD AT THAT.

IN ROCHESTER WE PROVIDE FREE FARES TO ALL OUR VETERANS ACROSS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AS ROUND TOWN TO HELP THEIR CLIENTS WE HAVE MADE IT EASIER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY CLIENTS TO USE THEIR EBT CARD RIGHT ON THE BUS.

SO IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO USE THE BUS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN LET'S JUST HAVE FREE SFEARS.

>> I WANT TO PLAY ANOTHER CLIP FROM OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE HEAD OF CENTRO AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IDEA OF MAKING THE SERVICES APPEALING.

AND ONE EFFORT THINGS OUR PRODUCER ALEC AMBRUSO TALKED WITH THE HEAD OF THE REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM HERE IN NEW YORK WAS THE BUS STATIONS THEMSELVES.

SO HOPEFULLY WE HAVE IT CUED UP.

LET'S PLAY THAT CLIP.

>> THE BUS STATIONS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT IN THE B.R.T.

SERVICE CERTAINLY DIFFERENT FROM OUR EXISTING SHELTERS IN OUR REGULAR SERVICE AREA.

WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD TECHNOLOGY THAT DOESN'T EXIST THROUGH SOLAR TECHNOLOGY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SOLAR LIGHTING.

WE ARE ALSO EXPLORING SOLAR SIGNAGE WHICH WOULD GIVE REAL TIME SIGNS TO THE CUSTOMERS AS THEY'RE WAITING AT THE STOPS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AND SEE WHEN THE NEXT BUS IS COMING TO THAT LOCATION.

WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SETS OF BENCHES.

LOOKING AT BIKE RACKS AT THOSE LOCATIONS AND TRYING TO INTEGRATE IT INTO THE LOCAL NETWORK, MAKING SURE IT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

LOOKING TO ENHANCE THEM WITH LOCAL ARTWORK AND TRY TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE SHELTER IS PLACED.

>> SO BAXTER, THIS IDEA OF MAKING THE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM MORE APPEALING, WE JUST HEARD ABOUT SOME OF THE ACCOUTREMENTSES THEY'RE CONSIDERING IN THE SYRACUSE AREA.

WHAT ARE ANY OF THE TOUCHES THAT YOU THINK MAKE SENSE?

IS IT ABOUT A BETTER APP, IS IT ABOUT A BETTER STATION WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE THINGS AROUND THE MARGINS?

>> I DO THINK BUS STOPS NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WALKING.

I CAN THINK OF AT LEAST A FEW BUS STOPS IN TOWN WHERE THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS OR CROSSWALKS TO GET THERE.

THE IMPORTANT OF BUS SHELTERS, ESPECIALLY TO SHIELD PEOPLE FROM THE WEATHER, INCLUDING REALLY COLD WINTER WINDS.

>> DOES THAT HAPPEN HERE IN SYRACUSE?

I DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME.

>> YES.

SO THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENHANCE THE BUS SYSTEM.

I THINK AS THE REDESIGN IS HAPPENING, A MAP AND BUS NAMES AND NUMBERS THAT MAKE MORE SENSE.

I PERSONALLY HAVE MISSED A COUPLE OF BUSES BECAUSE THERE WAS A BUS THAT PULLED UP AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WRONG ONE AND THEN I REALIZED IT WAS THE BUS I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON.

AND THEN BEYOND SOME OF THOSE THINGS, ALSO ESPECIALLY SURING THAT BUS STOPS ESPECIALLY THE B.R.T.

STOPS IN STATIONS ARE TIED INTO SAFE BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOT EVERYONE IS AWARE BUT YOU CAN PUT YOUR BIKE ON THE FRONT OF THE BUS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF RACKS ON THE FRONT OF EACH BUS FOR A BICYCLE AND YOU CAN USE YOUR BICYCLE FOR THE LAST MILE OR SO OF TRANSPORTATION WHEN THE BUS STOP DOESN'T QUITE GET YOU THERE.

AND THAN ENSURING THAT LAST MILE OR LAST HALF MILE OR FEW BLOCKS IS SAFE FOR BIKING IS PRETTY IMPORTANT.

>> THE IDEA OF A LAST MILE COULD BE ITS OWN SHOW.

MIGUEL, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE THE CHERRY ON TOP, IS IT SOMETHING WHERE IT'S LIKE OKAY, WE'VE GOT THE MONEY, WE CAN FUNNED THIS OR IT'S WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THIS BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE THAT GETS PEOPLE RIDING AND KEEPS PEOPLE RIDING?

>> NO, WHAT I THINK ABOUT IS WHEN I THINK ABOUT BUS STOPS, AND BUS STOP APLEN AT THISES AND I'M GLAD THAT-- AMENITIES AND I'M GLAD CHRIS MENTIONED A FEW OF THE THINGS HE IS THINKING ABOUT.

IT COMES DOWN TO TREATING CUSTOMERS WITH DIGNITY.

LOOK AT OUR AIRPORTS AND HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL THROUGH AIRPORTS.

BEAUTIFUL AIRPORTS WITH THINGS THAT, EVEN PLAY AREAS FOR KIDS TO PLAY AND.

>> GET A MASSAGE.

>> ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

AND TO ME OUR TRANSIT CUSTOMERS ARE NO DIFFERENT.

THEY KNEAD TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND SOMETIMES WE CALL IT AMENITIES BUT IT'S REALLY SOMETHING TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE AND TREAT THEM RIGHT.

>> DOES THAT MEAN MAYBE CHARGING PEOPLE ADD ONS BECAUSE I MENTION GETTING A MASSAGE.

YOU CAN DO ALL SORTS OF CRAZY STUFF IN AN AIRPORT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY UP A PRETTY PENNY.

SO ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPERIENCES IN PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE FUTURE?

THE PREMIUM RIDERSHIP EXPERIENCE FOR THE PERSON WHO IS WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE?

>> I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT ONE IS FREE.

>> BECAUSE WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT THIS POINT.

I THINK WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE AT LEAST LET'S BRING THEM THE BASICS, BRING THEM BUS STOPS THAT ARE COMFORTABLE, SAFE, CLEAN, LELINGS START THERE-- LET'S START THERE.

ONE STEP AT A TIME.

>> COME BACK TO THE IDEA OF PLANNING FOR A COMMUNITY LIKE SYRACUSE AND WE MENTIONED SIDEWALKS AND SO PEOPLE GETTING AROUND BY FOOT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO GET AROUND ON BIKES AND BIKE LANES.

HOW MUCH OF AN APPETITE IN CITIES IS THERE TO DRAMATICALLY SAY RESHAPE SOME OF THESE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION AND HOW MUCH OF IT HAS TO BE INCREMENTAL BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHAT THEIR CITY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD RATHER DIE THAN LOSE ANOTHER LANE OF ROAD TRAFFIC SO IT'S A "BALANCING ACT."

AS MOST THINGS ARE, WE REALLY ALWAYS STRUGGLE TO TRY TO HIT THE RIGHT BALANCE, BUT I THINK THERE IS A GROWING APPETITE AND A GROWING UNDERSTANDING FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT OUR ROADS AND OUR RIGHTS OF WAY, FOR MORE THAN JUST FOR FOLKS TO DRIVE REALLY FAST DOWN.

THAT STREET SERVES MORE THAN JUST YOU AND YOU GETTING THE GREEN LIGHT ON YOUR WAY TO WORK MAY NOT BE THE ULTIMATE ITEM WE ARE PLANNING FOR.

SO I THINK THE CONVERSATION IS STARTING TO CHANGE AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM A LOT OF OUR TRANSIT PROVIDERS WHO ARE GENERALLY AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE A MAJOR OVERHAUL OR REDESIGN OF A STREET WE HAVE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT ADVOCATE REGULARLY FOR RIGHT SIZING VEHICLE TRAVEL LANES, REDUCING PAVEMENT, EXPANDING SIDEWALKS.

SO I THINK THE CONVERSATION NOW IS AT A POINT WHERE IT WAS NOT MAYBE 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO OR THESE THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN FRINGE.

WE GOT TO RETHINK PARKING FOR BIKE LANE.

WE NEED TO BUMP OUT THE CURB TO HAVE A BETTER BUS STOP.

THEY'RE REALLY AT THE FOREFRONT NOW WHERE THE PUBLIC IS COMING TO THE CITY IN CALLING THOSE THINGS OUT BY NAME.

READY TO DISCUSS THESE ITEMS IN DETAIL IN A LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT WE DIDN'T SEE BEFORE AND THAT'S REFRESHING BECAUSE IT MAKES OUR JOBS A LITTLE EASIER BUT IT'S NOT AS IF MAJOR STREET REDESIGNS OR ADJUSTMENTS IN TRAVEL MODES ARE GETTING PEOPLE TO CHANGE IS REALLY EVER EASY.

IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE THE CONVERSATION IN A NEW LIGHT.

>> BAXTER, I IMAGINE YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS.

AS YOU ANSWER THIS, I'M CURIOUS, WE SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIKE LANES IN SOME COMMUNITIES.

WE SEE ADDED WALK WAYS AND CARVEOUTS AND THINGS TO HEADACHE THINGS EASIER AND MAY NOT GET UTILIZED.

IS THERE A CASE TO BE MADE THAT COMMUNITIES MAYBE SHOULDN'T BEND OVER BACKYARDS TO THE LOUDEST VOICES IN THE ROOM WEARING BIKE SHORTS?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW NOT ALL CYCLISTS WEAR BIKE SHORTS.

THE ONES WHO WANT COMFORT AND STYLE DO THOUGH.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> I PERSONALLY DON'T.

BUT.

>> WE'LL GET YOU THERE.

>> I THINK IN TERMS OF BUILDING BIKE LANES AND BUILDING OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTING IN TRANSIT, SOMETIMES SOME OF IT DOESN'T GET USED WHEN IT'S SUPER FREQUENTLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BUILD IT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT CONNECTIVITY.

THERE MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, A SHORT BIKE LANE HERE ON ONE STREET AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT DOESN'T COVER MY TRIP.

MAYBE THAT ONLY COVERS PART OF MY TRIP.

AND THAT HELPS A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY SOLVE ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T COMFORTABLE BIKING ON ROADS FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF THEIR TRIP, ESPECIALLY UNSAFE ROADS.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN BIKE LANES ARE BUILT AND THEY'RE NOT USED, SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT SAFE.

I THINK THE LEAST SAFE KIND OF BIKE LANE IS PROBABLY ONE THAT IS BUILT NEXT TO PARALLEL PARKING WITHOUT A BUFFER OF SPACE IN BETWEEN BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WATCH FOR CARS IN TRAFFIC LANES IN THE ROAD, BUT THERE IS NO WARNING IF SOMEONE OPENS THEIR DOOR INTO YOU IN A BIKE LANE AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU SEE A LANE LIKE THAT, THAT NO ONE IS USING, AND THE CYCLISTS ARE BIKING IN THE TRAFFIC LANES, INSTEAD, THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON LIKE ON SALINA DOWNTOWN.

BUT I ALSO THINK IN TERMS OF CHANGING THE CONVERSATION AS NEIL WAS TALKING ABOUT, PART OF THE CHANGING CONVERSATION HAS TO BE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC FROM ON THE BENEFITS ON THIS TYPE OF BENEFIT EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USING IT AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING BECAUSE YOU CAN FIT MORE PEOPLE IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPACE ON THE ROAD ON BIKES, BY FOOT, IN A BUS, THAN YOU CAN IN A CAR.

CARS TAKE UP A LOT OF ROOM PER CAPITA.

AND SO AS WE ARE GROWING AS A COMMUNITY, RELYING ON ONLY PRIMARILY CARS TO GET PEOPLE AROUND INEVITABLY WILL CAUSE MORE TRAFFICKER.

SOME OF THE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE WORST TRAFFIC ARE SOME OF THE BIG CITIES THAT ARE THE MOST CAR DEPENDENT.

AND TO PRETENT THAT, 3 WE NEED TO-- TO PREVENT THAT, WE NEED TO CREATE SPACE FOR, LESS SPACE INTENSIVE TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AND BEYOND EVEN THAT, CYCLISTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE THE ROAD AND PEOPLE WILL INEVITABLY BIKE IN SOME NUMBERS AROUND THE CITY.

IT IS A BENEFIT TO PEOPLE DRIVING TO HAVE BIKE LANES ON THOSE STREETS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SLOW CYCLIST ANYMORE LIKE YOU DO NOW.

SO CHANGING THE CONVERSATION AND HELPING EVERYONE REALIZE THAT REALLY IT'S NOT JUST THE USERS OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL BENEFIT IS IMPORTANT TO MOVING FORWARD AND IMPLEMENTING THIS TO SCALE.

>> WE'VE ONLY GOT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT AND I DON'T WANT TO END OUR CONVERSATION WITHOUT MENTIONING E-BIKES AND E SCOOTERS.

ARE THESE A NICHE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, A FAD OR ARE THESE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK ARE GOING TO PLAY A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN TRANSIT MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES DABBLE IN THESE A LITTLE BIT.

>> I THINK THEY PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE.

I THINK THEY'RE VERY POPULAR.

YOU HAVE TO THINK OF IT AS AN ECOSYSTEM.

YOU CAN'T DO E-BIKES BECAUSE YOU THINK IT'S COOL AND CUSHING THERE.

IT IS ALL INTERCONNECTED SO THAT IT CAN ALL WORK.

>> LIKE WHERE DO WE LEAVE THE ESCOOTERS WHEN PEOPLE ARE DONE USING THEM AND IS THAT SOMETHING SOMETHING SYRACUSE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT.

THE EBIKES AND E DLF SCOOTERS, NOT JUST A FUN TOURIST ATTRACTION BUT REALISTIC USE OF TRANSPORTATION?

>> YES, AND SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH OUR MICROMOBILITY SERVICE HERE IN SYRACUSE IS THAT IT IS USED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

IT IS USED ON IN THE MORNINGS.

IT IS USED MIDDAY, IT IS USED AT NIGHT AND IT'S NOT JUST THE FRIDAY NIGHT OR EVENING SATURDAY EVENING STROLL THROUGH THE PARK TYPE OF OPERATION.

IT IS BEING USED TO HELP PEOPLE COMMUTE.

AND SO OUR TRANSIT PROVIDER HERE CENTRO ALSO IS WORKING WITH THE MICROMOBILITY PARTNER.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CONTRACT WITH THE SAME PROVIDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MARRYING THOSE ITEMS TOGETHER BECAUSE IT CAN HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE LAST MILE ITEMS.

IF THE BUS ISN'T TAKING YOU DIRECTLY TO YOUR DESTINATION, IT IS A BENEFIT TO YOU AS THE CUSTOMERS TO KNOW WHEN I STOP OFF, I CAN LIKELY HOP ON AN E SCOOTER OR E-BIKE AND GET TO MY DESTINATION FOR IN RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT BUT THE NUMBERS FOR OUR SYSTEM ARE QUITE IMPRESSIVE AND SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO PLAN MORE FOR BUT I THINK IT STARTED AS A DISRUPTER IN SOME CITIES A DECADE OR SO AGO BUT I THINK THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE OFFERING HAS MATURED TO A POINT WHERE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING ABOUT BIKE LANES, PEOPLE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO THESE THINGS, GETTING USED TO THEM AND THEY'RE PART OF THE CONVERSATION NOW.

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY'S SHOW.

WE DIDN'T GET TO JET PACKS LIKE I WAS HOPING TO BUT THAT'S FOR THE NEXT ONE.

MY THANKS TO OUR PANELISTS, MIGUEL VELAZQUEZ, CEO OF THE ROCHESTER-GENESEEE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, NEIL MILCAREK-BURKE, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, AND BAXTER HANKIN, FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE SYRACUSE URBANISM COLLECTIVE.

PLOPFULLY ONE DAY OWNER OF A PAIR OF BIOG SHORTS.

AND THANKS AS WELL TO CENTRO CEO CHRISTOPHER TUFF FOR SPEAKING WITH OUR PRODUCER, ALEC AMBRUSO.

AND IF YOU WANT MORE NEW YORK CONTENT, VISIT WCNY.ORG/CONNECT AND FOR MORE STATE GOVERNMENT COVEARGE, INCLUDING ALL THINGS TRANSPORTATION, YOU CAN FIND ME AT CAPITOLPRESS ROOM DHBTF ORG OR WHEREVER YOU DOWN LOAD POD CASTS.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.