S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1850

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 12, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. NOLAN, MARKEY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
  COLTON, COOK, DINOWITZ,  GLICK,  PHEFFER,  WRIGHT  --  read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

AN  ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
  an advisory committee on fare policies of the metropolitan transporta-
  tion authority

  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 1269-e to read as follows:
  S 1269-E. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON  FARE  POLICIES  OF  THE  METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION  AUTHORITY.  1.  THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REVIEW  AND  COMMENT
ON  OPTIONS  FOR FARES AND FARE POLICIES USING SYSTEMS OF AUTOMATED FARE
COLLECTION ON THE  FACILITIES  OF  THE  OPERATING  SUBSIDIARIES  OF  THE
AUTHORITY. THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF TWELVE MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED
AS  FOLLOWS:  THREE  SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THREE SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, TWO SHALL  BE  APPOINTED
BY  THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND ONE BY THE MINORITY LEADER
OF THE SENATE, TWO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY,
AND ONE BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY. SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL, TO
THE  EXTENT  FEASIBLE,  INCLUDE  REPRESENTATIVES  OF TRANSIT RIDERS, THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LABOR AND CIVIC GROUPS, INCLUDING, BUT  NOT  LIMITED
TO,  THOSE  CONCERNED  WITH TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. THE
MEMBERS OF  THE  COMMITTEE  SHALL  RECEIVE  NO  COMPENSATION  FOR  THEIR
SERVICES  BUT  SHALL  BE  REIMBURSED  FOR  ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES. THE COMMITTEE SHALL  SELECT
A  CHAIRPERSON FROM ITS MEMBERSHIP. THE COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AS OFTEN AS
IT DEEMS NECESSARY AND SHALL EXPIRE ON THE  FIRST  DAY  OF  OCTOBER  TWO
THOUSAND TWELVE.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02116-01-9

              

A. 1850                             2

  2.  THE  AUTHORITY SHALL CONVENE THE COMMITTEE ON AT LEAST A QUARTERLY
BASIS TO PRESENT TO THE COMMITTEE: (A) THE  STATUS  OF  ITS  EFFORTS  TO
IMPLEMENT  AND  COMPLETE  AUTOMATION OF FARE COLLECTION AT ITS OPERATING
SUBSIDIARIES; (B) FARE POLICY OPTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE AUTHOR-
ITY,  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ELIMINATION OF MULTIPLE FARE ZONES,
UNLIMITED-RIDE TIME-BASED TRANSIT PASSES, DISCOUNTS  FOR  RIDERS  TRANS-
FERRING AMONG FACILITIES OF THE AUTHORITY, MULTIPLE-RIDE DISCOUNTS, PEAK
AND  OFF-PEAK  FARE PRICING, AND BETTER INTEGRATION OF THE FACILITIES OF
THE AUTHORITY'S OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES; (C) DATA ON (I) THE POTENTIAL OR
ACTUAL IMPACT OF FARE POLICY OPTIONS ON  LEVELS  OF  RIDERSHIP  AND  THE
FINANCES  OF  THE OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES OF THE AUTHORITY AND ON THE AIR
QUALITY, ECONOMY, AND PATTERNS OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC MOBILITY  AND  ACCI-
DENT RATES IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN REGION; (II) THE RESULTS OF
ANY  EFFORTS  TO  GAUGE PUBLIC OR RIDER RESPONSE TO FARE POLICY OPTIONS,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO OPINION POLLS, PUBLIC  FORUMS,  AND  FOCUS
GROUPS; AND (III) PILOT FARE POLICY PROJECTS OR EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY
THE  AUTHORITY  OR ITS OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES; (D) PLANS AND PROGRAMS TO
DISTRIBUTE AND MARKET FARE MEDIA, INCLUDING TRANSIT PASSES; AND (E) SUCH
OTHER INFORMATION AS THE AUTHORITY DEEMS RELEVANT TO THE COMMITTEE.
  3. TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE  COMMITTEE  MAY
REQUEST  FROM  THE  AUTHORITY, ITS OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES, THE OFFICE OF
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY INSPECTOR GENERAL  AND  THE  STATE
DEPARTMENTS  OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND TRANSPORTATION SUCH COOP-
ERATION AS WILL ENABLE THE COMMITTEE TO CARRY OUT  ITS  FUNCTIONS  HERE-
UNDER, AND THEY ARE AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO PROVIDE SAID COOPERATION,
ASSISTANCE,  SERVICE  AND DATA. THE AUTHORITY SHALL RESPOND IN A REASON-
ABLE AND TIMELY MANNER TO REQUESTS BY  THE  COMMITTEE  TO:  (A)  PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  ON THE PRESENTATIONS REQUIRED UNDER SUBDIVISION
TWO OF THIS SECTION; (B) CONDUCT ANALYSES  ON  THE  IMPACTS,  RISKS  AND
BENEFITS  OF FARE POLICY OPTIONS ON LEVELS OF RIDERSHIP AND THE FINANCES
OF THE OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES OF THE AUTHORITY, AND ON THE AIR  QUALITY,
ECONOMY,  AND  PATTERNS OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC MOBILITY AND ACCIDENT RATES
IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN REGION; AND (C) SUCH OTHER REQUESTS AS
THE COMMITTEE DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
  4. THE COMMITTEE SHALL SUBMIT IN WRITING TO ITS APPOINTING AUTHORITIES
AND TO THE CHAIR AND BOARD OF THE AUTHORITY, AT LEAST ONCE ANNUALLY, ITS
COMMENTS RELATED TO FARE POLICY OPTIONS FOR THE AUTHORITY. SUCH  REPORTS
MAY  INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON PREFERRED FARE POLICY OPTIONS AND OBSER-
VATIONS ABOUT EXISTING POLICIES OF THE AUTHORITY, AND WHETHER ANY  ADDI-
TIONAL  GOVERNMENTAL  SUBSIDIARIES ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT ANY FARE POLICY
OPTIONS. SUCH REPORTS SHALL BE MADE PUBLIC.
  5. THE COMMITTEE MAY HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS AND FORUMS IN EXERCISING ITS
FUNCTIONS. THE AUTHORITY SHALL ASSIST  THE  COMMITTEE  IN  HOLDING  SUCH
HEARINGS OR FORUMS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.