NYC Lawmakers Want to Help Disabled Vets Avoid Traffic Jams
City Council Member Vincent Gentile's calling on Washington to pass legislation that would allow states and localities to grant disabled veterans access to HOV express lanes.
New York City lawmakers want to help disabled veterans avoid traffic jams.
City Council Member Vincent Gentile's introducing a resolution this week. He's calling on Washington to pass legislation that would allow states and localities to grant disabled vets access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes.
"Some disabled veterans, having been stuck in traffic, have come to me and said, 'It's really painful for us waiting in traffic given the kinds of injuries -- leg injuries, back injuries, sholder injuries -- we've sustained from the war, that it would be great for us if we could use the express HOV lanes,'" he said.
Gentile says New York City has to wait on Congress' permission because any breach in federal roadway regulations could result in a loss of federal transportation aid.
If passed, the law would only apply to drivers with license plates that specify they're disabled veterans.