(New York, NY) RPA has released maps by county of the most recent round of MTA subway, bus and commuter rail service cuts. The cuts are part of a larger set of gap-closing actions, including reduction in Paratransit service, elimination of student Metrocards, worker layoffs and salary reductions, which the MTA is undertaking to close an estimated $750 m operating shortfall brought on by state cuts and loss in revenue.

The maps show cuts by State Senate and Assembly district. RPA and the Empire State Transportation Alliance are urging the state and city to address the MTA's operating budget shortfalls as well as fund an estimated $10 billion gap in the upcoming 2010 - 2014 rebuilding and repair program.

The maps are released as the MTA begins a series of public hearings around the region to gather public input on the proposed service reductions.

Regional Plan Association and Brooklyn Greenway initiative are pleased to issue this request for qualifications for design development services for the Naval Hospital Cemetery Memorial Landscape at Brooklyn Navy Yard. Responses to this Request for Qualifications must be received by Brooklyn Greenway Initiative by 4:00 PM Friday March 12th, 2010. Notice of Intent to Respond, by email (to mpuryear@brooklyngreenway.org) must be received by March 1st, 2010 in order to receive any addenda to this RFQ.

Regional Plan Association applauds the decision by the Mayor's office and New York City Department of Transportation to make permanent a pilot pedestrian project along Broadway at Times and Herald Squares. "Times and Herald Squares have been iconic public spaces of New York for over a century but in reality they have never lived up to the glitz," said Bob Yaro, president, Regional Plan Association. "To many, the areas have been auto-oriented traffic jams that worked neither for pedestrians or drivers. The decision to permanently reclaim part of the pavement for safer streets and more free-flowing traffic is an idea RPA has been pushing for over forty years. This move should be embraced by New Yorker's and tourists alike."

Regional Plan Association opposes the use of current capital dollars to plug the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's estimated $383 million gap in its proposed 2010 budget. While there are no easy choices, other alternatives - including asking the state and city to reimburse the MTA for school passes - should be explored first.

Today's City Council rejection of a zoning change that would have allowed redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory sets a dangerous precedent. The project had made its way through the city's land use review process, ULURP, and was voted down because there was no provision to provide a minimum wage of $10 / hour to employees of the retail complex that would have been built.