STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4943--B
Cal. No. 1239
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 18, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. BIAGGI, ADDABBO, GIANARIS, GOUNARDES, JACKSON,
MYRIE, RAMOS, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- commit-
tee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
mitted to said committee -- reported favorably from said committee,
ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading,
amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of
third reading
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
metropolitan transportation authority to develop a strategic action
plan to improve bicycle and pedestrian access at its bridges and
passenger stations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The metropolitan transportation authority shall, in
2 consultation with the Long Island Rail Road Commuter's Council, the
3 Metro-North Rail Commuter Council and the New York City Transit Authori-
4 ty Advisory Council, develop a strategic action plan to improve bicycle
5 and pedestrian access at bridges, stations and other facilities operated
6 by the authority or its affiliates or subsidiaries. One component of the
7 strategic action plan shall be to develop and monitor capital projects
8 to allow for and/or expand bicycle access on all bridges operated by the
9 authority or its affiliates or subsidiaries, provide for bicycle parking
10 at all passenger stations operated by the authority or its affiliates or
11 subsidiaries, and, where feasible, expand bicycle access on equipment as
12 such term is defined in paragraph 5 of section 1261 of the public
13 authorities law. The strategic action plan shall also include a review
14 of the authority's and the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority's
15 capital program plans in effect on and after January first, two thousand
16 twenty, to determine the impact of such projects on bicycle and pedes-
17 trian access and shall include any proposed amendments and modifications
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09372-15-1
S. 4943--B 2
1 to such capital program plans that the authority deems necessary to
2 accomplish the purposes of this section. Within one year of the effec-
3 tive date of this act, the chairperson of the metropolitan transporta-
4 tion authority shall submit a written report to the governor, temporary
5 president of the senate, speaker of the assembly and mayor of the city
6 of New York, detailing the strategic action plan conducted pursuant to
7 this act. Such report shall be made available to the public on the
8 metropolitan transportation authority's website.
9 § 2. Section 1269-b of the public authorities law is amended by adding
10 a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
11 11. In formulating their capital program plans, the authority and its
12 affiliates and subsidiaries shall consider the impact of any proposed
13 plan, amendment or modification submitted pursuant to this section on
14 bicycle and pedestrian accessibility. Such consideration shall be made
15 in consultation with the Long Island rail road commuter's council, the
16 Metro-North rail commuter council and the New York city transit authori-
17 ty advisory council.
18 § 3. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1266-e of the public authorities
19 law, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 669 of the laws of 1986 and
20 subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 396 of the laws of 1998, are amended
21 to read as follows:
22 1. There is hereby created the Metro-North rail commuter council to
23 study, investigate, monitor and make recommendations with respect to the
24 maintenance and operation of those portions of, if any, the Hudson,
25 Harlem, New Haven, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis commuter railroad
26 lines remaining within the metropolitan commuter transportation
27 district. Such council shall study and investigate all aspects of the
28 day to day operation of such railroad lines, monitor their performance
29 and recommend changes to improve the efficiency of the operation there-
30 of. Such council shall study and make recommendations in regard to
31 improving bicycle and pedestrian access at bridges, stations and other
32 facilities operated by such railroad lines.
33 2. Such council shall consist of [eleven] twelve members and shall be
34 commuters who regularly use the transportation services of such railroad
35 lines. At least five of such members shall be residents of the county of
36 Westchester. Of the other [six] seven members, at least one of such
37 members shall be a resident of each of the counties of Rockland, Putnam,
38 Dutchess, Orange and Bronx, provided that such county has not withdrawn
39 from the metropolitan commuter transportation district pursuant to
40 section twelve hundred seventy-nine-b of this [article] title; provided
41 further, should only the county of Putnam remain in the metropolitan
42 commuter transportation district then membership on such council shall
43 consist of [seven] eight members, [five] six of whom reside in the coun-
44 ty of Westchester and two of whom reside in the county of Putnam.
45 Members shall be appointed by the governor. In making such appointments
46 the governor shall consult with and solicit recommendations from local
47 officials and to the extent possible appoint members who represent the
48 ridership of the several commuter railroad lines. Provided, however,
49 that one member shall be appointed who has a demonstrated expertise or
50 interest in the promotion and development of improved bicycle and pedes-
51 trian access at bridges, stations and other facilities operated by the
52 authority and its affiliates and subsidiaries. Vacancies occurring in
53 the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner as
54 original appointments.
55 § 4. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1266-d of the public authorities
56 law, subdivision 1 as added by chapter 482 of the laws of 1981, and
S. 4943--B 3
1 subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 396 of the laws of 1998, are amended
2 to read as follows:
3 1. There is hereby created the Long Island rail road commuter's coun-
4 cil, to study, investigate, monitor and make recommendations with
5 respect to the maintenance and operation of the Long Island rail road.
6 Such council shall study and investigate all aspects of the day to day
7 operations of such railroad, monitor its performance and recommend
8 changes to improve the efficiency of the operation thereof. Such coun-
9 cil shall study and make recommendations in regard to improving bicycle
10 and pedestrian access at bridges, stations and other facilities operated
11 by the Long Island Railroad.
12 2. Such council shall consist of [twelve] thirteen members who shall
13 be commuters who regularly use the transportation services of such rail-
14 road, and who shall be residents of Nassau, Suffolk, Queens or Brooklyn
15 county. Members shall be appointed by the governor upon the recommenda-
16 tion of the county executive of each such county, provided, however,
17 that such members shall be chosen from a list of ten names submitted by
18 each such county executive and provided further however that no more
19 than six members of such council shall be residents of either such coun-
20 ty. Provided, however, that one member shall be appointed on the recom-
21 mendation of the borough president of Queens and one member shall be
22 appointed on the recommendation of the borough president of Brooklyn.
23 Provided, however, that one member shall be appointed who has a demon-
24 strated expertise or interest in the promotion and development of
25 improved bicycle and pedestrian access at bridges, stations and other
26 facilities operated by the authority and its affiliates and subsid-
27 iaries. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the council shall be
28 filled in the same manner as original appointments, provided, however,
29 that such vacancy shall be filled from a list of three names submitted
30 by each such county executive.
31 § 5. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1204-e of the public authorities
32 law, as added by chapter 483 of the laws of 1981 and such section as
33 renumbered by section 2 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, are
34 amended to read as follows:
35 1. There is hereby created the New York city transit authority advi-
36 sory council, to study, investigate, monitor and make recommendations
37 with respect to the maintenance and operation of the New York city tran-
38 sit authority, its subsidiaries and the Staten Island rapid transit
39 operating authority. Such council shall study and investigate all
40 aspects of the day to day operations of such authority, its subsidiaries
41 and the Staten Island rapid transit operating authority, monitor their
42 performance and recommend changes to improve the efficiency of the oper-
43 ation thereof. Such council shall study and make recommendations in
44 regard to improving bicycle and pedestrian access on trains and buses,
45 and at bridges, stations and other facilities operated by the authority,
46 its affiliates and subsidiaries and the Staten Island rapid transit
47 operating authority.
48 2. Such council shall consist of [fifteen] eighteen members who shall
49 be commuters who regularly use the transportation services of such
50 authorities. [Five] Eight of such members shall be appointed by the
51 governor upon the recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York;
52 five upon the recommendation of the president of the city council of the
53 city of New York; and five other members appointed upon the recommenda-
54 tion one by each of the borough presidents of the boroughs of the city
55 of New York. Provided, however, that three members recommended by the
56 mayor of New York shall have a demonstrated expertise or interest in the
S. 4943--B 4
1 promotion and development of improved bicycle and pedestrian access at
2 bridges, stations and other facilities operated by the metropolitan
3 transportation authority, as created by section twelve hundred sixty-
4 three of this article, and such authority's affiliates and subsidiaries.
5 The chairman shall be a member selected by the membership of the commit-
6 tee. Each of the members shall serve for a term of two years, provided,
7 however, that of the first appointments, two appointed upon the recom-
8 mendation of the mayor and two appointed upon the recommendation of the
9 president of the city council shall serve for a term of one year. Vacan-
10 cies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the
11 same manner as the original appointments for the balance of the unex-
12 pired term.
13 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.