PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by I. Daneek Miller, Former NYC Council Member, on Transportation Equity and Commuter Van Industry
2:08:01
·
5 min
I. Daneek Miller, a former NYC Council Member, testified about transportation equity issues and concerns regarding the commuter van industry. He criticized the TLC's understanding of the current state of the commuter van industry and expressed disappointment in the potential undoing of previous legislation aimed at protecting community safety.
- Highlighted the importance of equitable transportation options in underserved communities
- Discussed the limitations of current public transportation funding and the potential impact of congestion pricing
- Argued against arbitrarily integrating commuter vans into bus stops and allowing street hails
I. Daneek Miller
2:08:01
Good good morning, Adam.
2:08:02
Good afternoon, Adam Cheah, and members of the committee.
2:08:07
It is great to be in the people's house again.
2:08:11
And so I I just after hearing TLC's testimony, I kinda just wanted to divert from what we were talking about because, obviously, they either misguided or misinformed about what the commuter van industry really is at this moment in time.
2:08:34
And the services that they are providing, and I would love to work collaboratively with them and the other agencies to ensure that that's that's happening.
2:08:43
But for him not to mention the actual mandated report that came out of the legislation that we passed back in 2018 that required annual review and reports of the industry around safety that wasn't mentioned at all.
2:09:01
And quite frankly, that was important as to whether or not you make a determination as that this should be expanded.
2:09:10
And and now also I just want to mention the first name basis of the industry folks is clearly where he's getting his his information from.
2:09:19
And and I do take a fence that something that we took nearly 8 years to to make sure that we were protecting the safety and integrity of communities throughout the city, to pass that legislation to to see it undemended and be diminished in a way that not just the street hails may happen in arbitrary way, but also that the fines and penalties that will put in place be diminished as well.
2:09:49
But I'd you know, what I really want to talk about was what and and very briefly is is that public transportation and that transportation what is not being spoken about here today is is is the great equalizer.
2:10:02
We do talk about transportation deserts, often communities of color, and the impact that that has on there.
2:10:08
But transportation, what we're missing, is is that there is a obligation by the city and the state to ensure that they're providing this this this public benefit equitably throughout the city.
2:10:26
In the city that we see communities that have public transportation options or have have new options such as ferries that are being subsidized at $12 and and change per trip.
2:10:41
And and and other communities, their options are community events, which are greatly underfunded that are are not regulated and and office often times, not providing a safe service.
2:10:55
Clearly, results from industry demonstrated that they don't provide they're not ADA accessible.
2:11:02
They're not accessible to those who would normally access Fair Fair Programs and and and so forth.
2:11:08
So that is an equity that that our community really is is losing out on.
2:11:14
And and I think in order for us to have equitable growth throughout the city, we have to talk about equitable transportation options.
2:11:23
As we move further, I I I think one of the testimonies of whether 100 odd ATU talked about transportation funding.
2:11:32
Transportation funding by the MTA on the operation side is strictly by mailbox.
2:11:38
And anything that that that that interferes with the fare box and numbers that are coming in, the people that are getting on, that are captured by the fare box diminishes the service that is provided.
2:11:50
As we talk about transportation equity and transportation has a great equalizer.
2:11:58
There's been conversation about congested pricing and as this committee knows that if and when that is implemented, it is only for capital projects, meaning that the operations of of of bus service is not going to be impacted by it It is not going to get you a contract, it is not going to provide benefits, it is not going to impact the day to day operations.
2:12:24
And certainly, I don't think that in our lifetime that we're going to see light rail or subways riding down Merritt Boulevard, Flatbush Avenue, Northern Boulevard, anywhere of these transportation dozens that currently exists.
2:12:37
So we have to look at, you know, common sense measures that really matter.
2:12:42
One of the things is
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:12:43
I'm sorry.
I. Daneek Miller
2:12:44
Okay.
2:12:45
So we talked about very briefly and and and we've been working on the bus network redesign.
2:12:51
I think those are areas that we can focus on, and we could but right now, we can have a conversation about what the industry the commuter van industry does, but to arbitrarily integrate them into bus stops in in Street Hills that I I think is a long move.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
2:13:12
And and so and I thank you for that testimony.