Noah Kazis
Noah joined Streetsblog as a New York City reporter at the start of 2010. When he was a kid, he collected subway paraphernalia in a Vignelli-map shoebox.
Before coming to Streetsblog, he blogged at TheCityFix DC and worked as a field organizer for the Obama campaign in Toledo, Ohio. Noah graduated from Yale University, where he wrote his senior thesis on the class politics of transportation reform in New York City. He lives in Morningside Heights.
Recent Posts
Bridge Tolls Not Very Popular, Says Progressive Caucus Survey
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Of all the revenue options offered by the Progressive Caucus, bridge tolls were the second-least popular. Click here for larger image. Graphic: Progressive Caucus. The results are in from the City Council Progressive Caucus budget survey, and when it comes to road pricing, they’re telling, if unscientific. Road pricing remains unpopular across a broad swath […]
Smart Growth Law Is Coming to New York. Now What Happens?
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The Buffalo area has tripled in size even while its population has stayed flat. Will New York’s new smart growth law help? Graphic via Joe the Planner. New York’s smart growth legislation is about to become law, so it’s worth looking at precisely how much it will do. Smart growth laws from around the country […]
DOT Compromises, to a Point, on Union Square Plan
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Though Broadway will remain a through street, NYCDOT is still building bike lanes and pedestrian plazas at Union Square. Image: NYCDOT. It took a few tries, but the Department of Transportation finally won the support of Manhattan Community Board 5’s Transportation Committee for its Union Square bike-ped plan last night. While a few safety improvements […]
Albany’s Bus Lane Cam Deal Only Covers Five Select Bus Service Routes
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Under the bus cam deal in the state budget, the city could crack down on drivers in the Nostrand Avenue Select Bus Service lane, shown here, but not regular bus lanes across the city. Image: NYCDOT. We reported on Friday that bus lane camera enforcement was passed as part of the so-called student MetroCard deal: […]
Eyes on the Street: Bus Bulbs on Broadway, Protected Lanes on Second Ave
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With drainage grates being installed, Broadway’s bus bulbs can lose their fences. All images: Clarence Eckerson. Bus bulbs are one of the most versatile tools in the livable streets toolkit. By extending the sidewalk out into the street, you can send a calming signal to through traffic, spare buses the trouble of pulling to the […]
Student MetroCards: Albany Offers Nothing, MTA Folds, Riders Lose
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Student straphangers got a reprieve today, but without a real commitment from Albany to shore up MTA finances, their victory comes at others’ expense. Photo: New York Post "Deal Saves Student Metrocards" proclaims the New York Times. "Ride on!" blares the Post. There’s just one catch: There isn’t really a deal. Despite the sunny headlines […]
Low Expectations for High-Speed Rail at NYU Conference
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Does New York need bullet trains, or just better trains? Photo: Gilliamhome/Flickr Skeptics and boosters of high-speed rail traded views at NYU this Wednesday at a conference notable for the low expectations expressed by many panelists. While the much-heralded potential of 200 mph trains was discussed at length, many speakers, particularly those close to the […]
Assembly Kneecaps Complete Streets; Senate Passes Hayley & Diego’s Law
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Just when you thought the State Assembly was safe for forward-thinking transportation legislation, Rochester rep David Gantt, the Transportation Committee chair formerly of bus cam-killing fame, has thrown a wrench into attempts to pass a complete streets bill. The complete streets bill would require almost all new and reconstructed roads in the state to accommodate […]
How Do You Get New York’s Street Fairs Past Fried Dough?
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A typical New York street fair. This one’s on the Upper West Side, not that it makes a difference. Photo: Ed Yourdon/Flickr Every summer, New Yorkers face a dire shortage of tube socks. Or so you’d assume if you walked through the city’s 300-odd street fairs. Though some fairs are cherished local institutions, the majority […]
Smart Growth Bill Passes State Assembly, Senate Vote Expected
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The State Assembly passed Sam Hoyt’s smart growth bill today by a vote of 95-2, one day after the bill sailed through three key committees. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation tomorrow, setting up the possibility of a rare Albany victory for sustainable planning.
Hoboken Launches First Citywide Car-Sharing Program in U.S.
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Today marks the launch of what Hoboken officials are calling the first citywide car-sharing initiative in the country, with 42 shared cars parked on the streets of the mile-square city. The "Corner Cars" program, which is intended to reduce car-ownership rates, could provide a model for expanding car-sharing across the Hudson. What happens in Hoboken […]
Albany Committees Wisely Advance Smart Growth Bill
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The bus cam bill isn’t the only piece of progressive transportation and planning legislation having a good day in Albany. Sam Hoyt’s smart growth legislation passed through three important committees today and could pass the full legislature as soon as Thursday, according to Peter Fleischer of Empire State Future, the smart growth advocacy organization. In […]