S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                   280

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on
  Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

AN  ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to enacting the
  metropolitan transportation authority rider's bill of rights

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  The  public  authorities  law  is amended by adding a new
section 1266-j to read as follows:
  S  1266-J.  METROPOLITAN  TRANSPORTATION  AUTHORITY  RIDER'S  BILL  OF
RIGHTS.    ALL MEMBERS OF NEW YORK CITY'S TRANSIT RIDING PUBLIC HAVE THE
RIGHT TO:
  1. RELIABLE, ON-TIME, AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT TRANSIT.
  2. ACCESS TO ACCURATE, REAL-TIME INFORMATION AND  CLEAR  ANNOUNCEMENTS
ABOUT  WHEN  TRAINS AND BUSES WILL ARRIVE AND INFORMATION CONCERNING ANY
SIGNIFICANT SERVICE DELAYS BEFORE SWIPING A METROCARD, OR  UPON  ARRIVAL
AT  A  BUS  STOP.  IF A BUS, SUBWAY, OR COMMUTER RAIL TRAIN IS MORE THAN
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE, UPDATED SERVICE INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE
VIA INTERNET, EMAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE TO SUBSCRIBERS,  P.A.  ANNOUNCEMENTS
ON  SUBWAY  PLATFORMS,  AND  ELECTRONIC  MESSAGE BOARDS ON COMMUTER RAIL
PLATFORMS.
  3. A MORE ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SYSTEM, WITH LEVEL BOARDING FOR BUSES AND
WORKING ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS WITHIN ALL SUBWAY STATIONS.
  4. SAFE AND WELL-LIT SUBWAY AND BUS FACILITIES, WITH MTA EMPLOYEES  ON
HAND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESPOND IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
  5.   CLEAN,  REGULARLY  MAINTAINED  MTA  FACILITIES  INCLUDING  SUBWAY
STATIONS, SUBWAY CARS, BUSES AND BUS STOPS.
  6. HELPFUL, COURTEOUS SERVICE FROM STATION  AGENTS,  BUS  DRIVERS  AND
OTHER MTA EMPLOYEES.
  7.  TRANSPARENT  AND EASILY-USED LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RIDERS
AND THE MTA WITH MECHANISMS IN  PLACE  TO  ADDRESS  RIDER  CONCERNS  AND

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD03078-01-3

A. 280                              2

COMPLAINTS.   CONVENIENT AND PROMINENTLY LOCATED BUS, TRAIN, AND STATION
POSTERS WILL PROVIDE THE INFORMATION NEEDED  TO  REGISTER  COMMENTS  AND
COMPLAINTS WHICH WILL BE RESPONDED TO BY TOP LEVEL MANAGEMENT.
  8.  FARE  HIKES  THAT ARE ONLY ENACTED AS A LAST RESORT WHEN ALL OTHER
FUNDING OPTIONS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, AS WELL AS STABLE FUNDING  FOR  THE
MTA FROM THE STATE AND CITY, IN GOOD ECONOMIC TIMES AND BAD.
  9.  OFFICIAL PRIORITIZATION OF THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVE-
MENT OF THE EXISTING TRAIN AND BUS NETWORK BEFORE ITS EXPANSION.
  10. A MINIMUM OF ONE TRANSIT WORKER AND ONE TRANSIT  RIDER  AS  VOTING
MEMBERS OF THE MTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
  S  2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 280--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. KIM, ROSENTHAL, ROZIC, MILLER, COLTON, GALEF --
  Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, GIBSON, TITONE -- read once and
  referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
  -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered  reprinted  as  amended
  and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to enacting the
  metropolitan transportation authority rider's bill of rights

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  The  public  authorities  law  is amended by adding a new
section 1266-j to read as follows:
  S  1266-J.  METROPOLITAN  TRANSPORTATION  AUTHORITY  RIDER'S  BILL  OF
RIGHTS.  1. ALL USERS OF THE MASS TRANSIT FACILITIES OF THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY SHALL HAVE:
  (A) THE RIGHT TO SAFE, RELIABLE, AND CLEAN TRANSIT FACILITIES, INCLUD-
ING TRAINS, BUSES, SUBWAY CARS, COMMUTER RAIL COACHES, TRANSIT  STATIONS
AND OTHER PASSENGER FACILITIES;
  (B)  THE  RIGHT  TO  HAVE EMPLOYEES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY AVAILABLE AT MULTI-TRAIN OR MULTI-BUS  STATIONS  OR  STOPS  TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES;
  (C) THE RIGHT TO BE TREATED COURTEOUSLY, AND WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT,
FROM ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY;
  (D)  THE  RIGHT TO REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS THAT TRAINS, BUSES, SUBWAYS
OPERATED BY THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY  WILL  OPERATE  ON
TIME.  IF  A  TRAIN, BUS, SUBWAY OR COMMUTER RAIL COACH IS SIGNIFICANTLY
DELAYED, UPDATED SERVICE INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE  VIA  INTER-
NET,  EMAIL  OR  TEXT  MESSAGE  TO  MASS  TRANSIT  USERS, PUBLIC ADDRESS
ANNOUNCEMENTS ON SUBWAY PLATFORMS,  AND  ELECTRONIC  MESSAGE  BOARDS  ON
STATIONS OR PLATFORMS;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03078-02-3
              

A. 280--A                           2

  (E)  THE  RIGHT  TO  CLEAR,  INTELLIGIBLE  AND TIMELY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON
TRAINS, BUSES, SUBWAYS, COMMUTER RAIL COACHES, AND IN STATIONS AND PLAT-
FORMS;
  (F)  THE  RIGHT  TO  BE  KEPT  INFORMED OF METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY ACTIONS OR DECISIONS THAT WILL HAVE A  SUBSTANTIAL  IMPACT  OF
THE FREQUENCY, SAFETY OR RELIABILITY OF AUTHORITY FACILITIES;
  (G)  THE  RIGHT  TO  A SIMPLE, DIRECT AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS TO ALLOW
RIDERS TO COMMUNICATE THEIR CONCERNS,  PROBLEMS  OR  COMPLAINTS  TO  THE
METROPOLITAN  TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROC-
ESS SHALL BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN ALL FACILITIES OF  THE  AUTHORITY,
INCLUDING   ITS  TRAINS,  BUSES,  SUBWAYS,  COMMUTER  RAIL  COACHES  AND
STATIONS.
  2. THE AUTHORITY SHALL ENSURE THAT THE  MASS  TRANSIT  USERS  AND  THE
GENERAL  PUBLIC ARE FULLY INFORMED AND MADE AWARE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS,
INCLUDING PROMINENTLY DISPLAYING  OR  POSTING  THE  BILL  OF  RIGHTS  ON
TRAINS,  BUSES,  SUBWAYS, COMMUTER RAIL COACHES AND STATIONS OPERATED BY
THE AUTHORITY. THE BILL OF RIGHTS SHALL BE WRITTEN IN  ENGLISH,  SPANISH
AND  SUCH OTHER LANGUAGES AS THE AUTHORITY DEEMS NECESSARY AND APPROPRI-
ATE.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 280--B

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A. KIM, ROSENTHAL, ROZIC, MILLER, COLTON, GALEF,
  MONTESANO, JACOBS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of  A.  ARROYO,  GIBSON,
  RAIA,  TITONE  --  read  once  and referred to the Committee on Corpo-
  rations, Authorities and Commissions  --  committee  discharged,  bill
  amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
  tee -- again reported from said  committee  with  amendments,  ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to enacting the
  metropolitan transportation authority pledge to customers

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  The  public  authorities  law  is amended by adding a new
section 1266-j to read as follows:
  S 1266-J. METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY PLEDGE  TO  CUSTOMERS.
1.  A METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY PLEDGE TO CUSTOMERS SHALL BE
CREATED AND ADOPTED BY THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY. A COPY
OF SUCH PLEDGE SHALL BE POSTED ON THE WEB  SITE  OF  THE  AUTHORITY  AND
SHALL  BE POSTED IN STATIONS WHERE THE AUTHORITY MAKES REGULAR POSTINGS.
THE AUTHORITY SHALL POST THE PLEDGE IN  THE  LANGUAGE  OR  LANGUAGES  IT
DEEMS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE.
  2. THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY PLEDGE TO CUSTOMERS SHALL
BE  IN  THE  FORM AND MANNER AS PRESCRIBED BY THE AUTHORITY, INCLUDE THE
CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE AUTHORITY, AND INCLUDE, BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED
TO, THE FOLLOWING:
  (A)  A  DESCRIPTION  OF THE AUTHORITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE SAFE AND
RELIABLE SERVICES;
  (B) A DESCRIPTION OF THE AUTHORITY'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE TIMELY  AND
ACCURATE INFORMATION ON ITS SERVICES;
  (C)  A  COMMITMENT  THAT EMPLOYEES WILL PROVIDE SERVICE IN A COURTEOUS
MANNER;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD03078-04-3

A. 280--B                           2

  (D) A DESCRIPTION OF THE  AUTHORITY'S  COMMITMENT  TO  MAINTAIN  CLEAN
STATIONS, FACILITIES, SUBWAYS AND BUSES;
  (E) A DESCRIPTION OF THE AUTHORITY'S POLICIES WHEN IT COMES TO ARRANG-
ING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION WHEN SERVICE IS INTERRUPTED;
  (F)  WHEN  SERVICE  IS  INTERRUPTED,  A DESCRIPTION OF THE AUTHORITY'S
POLICIES WHEN IT COMES TO  CONSIDERING  THE  COMFORT  OF  INCONVENIENCED
CUSTOMERS;
  (G)   WHEN  SERVICE  IS  INTERRUPTED  DUE  TO  WEATHER  CONDITIONS,  A
DESCRIPTION OF THE AUTHORITY'S POLICIES ON NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS;
  (H) WHEN SERVICE IS SEVERELY INTERRUPTED, A DESCRIPTION OF THE AUTHOR-
ITY'S POLICIES ON SERVICE RESTORATION.
  3. THE AUTHORITY FROM TIME TO TIME MAY, UPDATE AND AMEND THE METROPOL-
ITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY PLEDGE TO CUSTOMERS AS IT DEEMS  NECESSARY
AND  PROPER  AND MAY ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE PROPER ADMINIS-
TRATION OF THIS SECTION.
  S 2. This act shall take effect January 1,  2014,  provided,  however,
that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule  or  regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date is authorized to be made and completed on or before  such
date.