1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

New York must prioritize investing in public transportation and sustainable mobility options rather than pouring billions into highway expansions that only provide marginal benefits. The proposed $1.3 billion Route 17 expansion would save drivers a mere 1-6 minutes at most, while doing nothing to alleviate the state's overreliance on cars and the resulting emissions, congestion, and car-dependency. This runs counter to New York's official climate goals of shifting away from automobile-centric infrastructure. Instead of widening highways, that money could be better utilized to improve and expand public transit services, making them more accessible, frequent and reliable. Enhanced transit would give New Yorkers viable alternatives to driving, reducing traffic and emissions while promoting more sustainable communities. Highway expansions are a short-sighted and costly measure that have been shown to induce even more driving demand in the long run, quickly negating any short-term travel time savings. For a more sustainable transportation future, New York should funnel investments into upgrading public transit, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure rather than perpetuating car-centric policies. The state must align its spending priorities with its climate commitments by moving away from environmentally damaging highway projects toward mobility solutions that reduce driving and emissions.