Increasing mass transit would help this problem by taking more drivers off the roads. People don’t drive in New York City for pleasure; they do it because they have to. Making public transportation more accessible would mean fewer cars and fewer accidents. Also, the NYPD should be aggressive in ensuring that drivers and pedestrians follow the rules of the road. We also have to hold drivers accountable when they break the law.

E. Economy: Finan09 proposes the most broadly sweeping economic initiatives in the history of New York City. 1. Privately develop world Class Casino and Polo Grounds in New York City – Billions in Tax Revenues and Thousands of Jobs. 2. 50 percent immediate decrease in bus and subway fares for borough residents. 3. Free Bridge and Tunnel Crossings for Borough Residents. 4. No ATM Fees for Borough Residents at ATM’s in The 5 Boroughs 5. Free Wi Fi. 6. Establish World Class Soccer In NYC 7. Establish NASCAR in New York City 8. High Mileage Automobile and Wind Turbine Assembly Northern Burroughs.

I am committed to improving traffic safety as a core public health issue. The NYPD’s Traffic Control Division has been very successful - reducing traffic-related fatalities by 15% from 2007-2008, with fatalities down an additional 13% so far this year. Overall, we have reduced citywide traffic fatalities by nearly 100 fatalities annually.

But even one fatality is too many. That’s why we have pushed forward with new safety initiatives targeted at two vulnerable populations: children and seniors. Safe Routes to School puts new traffic signals, speed bumps, speed boards and crosswalks, and exclusive pedestrian crossing times at schools with high accident rates. Through Safe Streets for Seniors, we have made safety changes in 25 different areas, such as extending crossing times, shortening crossing distances, altering curbs and sidewalks, restricting vehicle turns, and narrowing roadways.

We also improved the safety of Queens Boulevard, morbidly known for years as “The Boulevard of Death” due to the high rates of accidents and fatalities. In 1997, there were 22 fatalities along this boulevard; last year, there were only 2. This 90% reduction is due to direct improvements to pedestrian safety including new pedestrian signals, crosswalks, and speed boards.

With these innovative programs and more, we will work hard to meet our ambitious goal of eventually cutting the annual number of traffic fatalities by at least 50% from 2007 to 2030.

I believe that smart engineering, better public-safety education, and more consistent enforcement could bring the death and injury rate down significantly – and I will make this a priority from my first day in office.

In engineering, my transportation department’s first priority will be safety, not traffic speed. By using crosswalk bulbs, neck-downs, and other engineering techniques that are common in many cities but still innovative in New York, we can reduce the risk that pedestrians will be hit by a negligent driver. We can protect bicyclists and pedestrians with well designed bike lanes as well; both would benefit from public education campaigns that get the message to drivers and bikers about the City’s speed limits and other road rules.

In the end, consistent enforcement is key. We’ve seen how better policing has helped reduce New York’s homicide rate over the past two decades. But New York City drivers believe they can get away with speeding and other moving violations with impunity. That will end in my administration, led by an NYPD with a directive to track dangerous moving violations (and to release this information publicly), reduce them, and show significant improvement through a reduction in vehicular deaths and injuries.