Metro-North Railroad is seriously considering buying double-decker coaches for its Harlem and Hudson lines, in a move to ease overcrowding on a rail network that routinely runs standing-room-only trains during rush hour. via Metro-North Considers Buying Double-Decker Trains – NYTimes.com.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell has announced that her colleagues from Massachusetts and Vermont – Governors Deval Patrick and Jim Douglas, respectively – have joined her in strongly supporting Connecticut’s application to the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) for a $220 million grant for construction work on the long-planned New Haven-Hartford-Springfield, Massachusetts high-speed commuter rail line.
Audubon Connecticut reports that Connecticut and New York lawmakers in the House of Representatives joined together to introduce H.R. 5876 the Long Island Sound Improvement Act. This bill, the House companion to S. 3119 passed earlier this summer by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, seeks to expand and strengthen efforts to improve water
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The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has expanded its efforts to clean up the East River and Long Island Sound by reducing their nitrogen levels. Nitrogen buildup promotes excessive algae growth, which endangers fish and other organisms close to the base of the food chain, converting once thriving waterways into dead zones.
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A nice rundown of farm stands on Long Island, along with a nice photo essay … Because of the North Fork’s proximity to the New York market as well as the summer vacationers, the area still supports a vibrant farm industry. Most of the farms do not rely solely on their roadside stands and subscription CSA’s
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Hauppauge – Suffolk Executive Steve Levy denounced an up to 75 percent restriction on lobster catches proposed by the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Levy noted the restriction would catastrophically affect the historic Long Island lobster industry, and yet has no guarantee of yielding results. Levy instead proposed a series of common-sense measures to
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Bid to hike sewage content of Jersey rivers Trenton — Wastewater treatment companies have asked the Christie administration to allow more pollutants to be discharged into New Jersey’s rivers and streams. The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and a coalition of 17 other groups are opposing the proposed
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Acquisitions protect critical habitat for rare species and other wildlife More than 485 acres of land and water have been purchased at a price of $1.41 million in Berkshire County for the purpose of protecting habitat, water sources for wildlife and outdoors people. The acquisition is in Egremont, Mount Washington and Sheffield, according to state
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Farmingville – Congressman Tim Bishop is proud to receive the endorsements of the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) and the national League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, two non-partisan organizations that support elected officials with proven records of protecting our country’s environmental resources. via New York League Of Conservation Voters Endorses Congressman Tim
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On Tuesday, the Livable Communities Act (S 1619 / HR 4690) was passed out of the Senate Banking Committee along party lines. If passed, the Act would provide $4 billion in competitive grants for projects that integrate transportation, housing, economic development and environmental planning. It would also establish a new Office of Sustainable Housing and
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Washington – In partnership with the bipartisan Long Island delegation in the House of Representatives, Congressman Tim Bishop has introduced new legislation to protect and restore Long Island Sound. The Long Island Sound Improvement Act (H.R. 5876) provides regulatory tools for states and municipalities to protect waters throughout the Sound's watershed and authorizes funding to
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“It’s a very disappointing decision,” said John Majercak, associate director of the Northampton office of the Center for Ecological Technology, a nonprofit group that helps homeowners and businesses improve energy efficiency. “It’s becoming clearer and clearer that if we don’t act now, it’s going to be even harder to do anything further down the road.”
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Shape the future of conservation and recreation in the United States. On August 6 in Poughkeepsie, NY, the Federal Government will host a listening session to gather your thoughts and ideas on reconnecting Americans with the great outdoors. Join senior representatives from the Department of the Interior, EPA, and the USDA at this public listening
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A federal appeals court has reversed a ruling that would have forced the Tennessee Valley Authority to spend $1 billion on pollution controls at coal-fired power plants in Tennessee and Alabama. via TVA’s Air Pollution Isn’t an Interstate Nuisance, 4th Circuit Rules – NYTimes.com.
The $104 monthly MetroCard moved one step closer to reality on Wednesday as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted to start the process of implementing a sprawling set of fare increases on the region’s buses, trains and bridges. via M.T.A. Moves Ahead With Plan to Raise Fares and Tolls – City Room Blog – NYTimes.com.
An environmental group’s report regarding water quality gave most Long Island beaches a clean bill of health, but a few ranked among the worst in New York State. The report ranked beaches in New York 21st in the nation in terms of water quality and gave most Long Island beaches good marks in terms of
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LENOX, MASS. — Once a dumping ground for chemicals, a stretch of the Housatonic River that winds near this Berkshires hamlet is being scoured in a lengthy, expensive cleanup. Now, dredging other parts of the riverbed is under consideration, but the fishers, bird watchers and swimmers who would benefit are wondering how much effort is
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More riders, aging mass transit systems and inadequate money for maintenance and upgrades — a familiar story line for commuters and those faced with the task of keeping the trains running. What is new this summer is that the problems are making headlines again, in part because of an extended heat wave that has smothered
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Act today to help secure $6 million in Land and Water Conservation Funding (LWCF) for critical additions to the Silvio O. Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. Contact your Representative and Senators and thank them for their past support of the Conte Refuge, then urge them to support $6M
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Riverhead – Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) released a letter to Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Tim Bishop asking for their support for the reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Restoration Act and the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act. These federal bills allow the Sound to qualify for up to $65 million per
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