Alders approve amended transportation transformation resolution after edits to remove budgeted positions
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Summary
The committee approved an amended Transportation Transformation resolution aligning language to standard resolution form and removing a request for budgeted positions; advocates urged stronger state and regional action on fares and transit access during public comment.
The New Haven Board of Alders' City Services and Environmental Policy Committee voted Oct. 16 to approve an amended Transportation Transformation resolution that had been revised to conform to resolution language and to remove a provision requesting city positions, committee staff said.
Chair Anna M. Festa explained the amendment was necessary because the original draft requested positions; "positions can't be put in resolutions — they have to go through the budget process," she said. Committee members substituted an amended version intended to preserve the policy goals while moving personnel and budget requests into appropriate budget or order processes.
Speakers from local climate and transportation groups addressed the committee during public comment in support of stronger steps to shift travel away from single‑occupancy vehicles. Adrienne Huck, identified as based at 608 Whitney Avenue, said the city has made visible improvements on corridors like Whitney and State Streets but urged deeper action and state advocacy on free or discounted transit for students and other targeted groups.
Advocates also urged a larger regional approach to transit and emphasized bus service enhancements, fare strategies and network improvements. Public commenter David Augusta, who said he lives at 441 Orange Street and identified as a person with a disability, asked the committee to adopt benchmarks and enforcement steps to implement existing plans (Complete Streets, Safe Routes for All, and Safe Routes to School). "It relies heavily on implementing and following three plans that this board has already approved," he said, and urged the committee to set implementation benchmarks.
Committee members said they would continue working with transportation, traffic and parking staff and regional partners. Alders moved and passed the amended resolution by voice vote; the record shows no roll-call tally.
The amended resolution retains the policy commitments of the original while routing personnel and budget requests to the proper budget and order processes, committee staff said. Members expressed interest in continued collaboration on regional transit, school transit passes and the city's I‑91 neighborhood reconnection planning process.
