S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1850
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 12, 2009
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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.