Traffic 'beyond serious' in borough, Lanza says

Republican state Senate candidate says Albany needs to become partner in alleviating problem

Friday, October 06, 2006

By ROB HART

ADVANCE ALBANY BUREAU

City Councilman Andrew Lanza said yesterday he would use a stint in the state Senate to fight Staten Island's traffic woes.

"The traffic situation we have here is beyond serious," said Lanza (R-South Shore), who is vying with Democratic attorney Matthew Titone to replace retiring Sen. John Marchi (R-Staten Island).

Lanza, standing at the congested corner of New Dorp Lane and Hylan Boulevard during the after-school rush, said Albany hasn't given the Island its fair share and needs to be a partner in mitigating traffic.

He added that Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Transportation Task Force has identified a number of areas where traffic can be improved.

"Without Albany's assistance, a lot of these solutions will remain ink on paper," Lanza said.

His plan includes lobbying for transportation improvement money to bolster the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the city and state Departments of Transportation for the purpose of road improvements.

The traffic issue, he said, creates a number of problems, both seen and unseen -- besides motorists being tied up in a borough dependent on cars because of poor public transportation, residents might opt to forgo shopping and dining out just to avoid traffic.

 

 

Rob Hart covers state government for the Advance. He may be reached at rhart@siadvance.com.

 

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