Assembly Bill A9236

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

                                  9236

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            November 9, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. BOYLE -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  creating  a
  pilot  program in Suffolk county for the use of accessible pedestrian-
  control signals; making an appropriation therefor; and  providing  for
  the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

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

  Section 1. Section 1652-b of the vehicle and traffic law, as added  by
chapter 812 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:
  S 1652-b. (A)  Supervision  and  installation  of  traffic  devices in
Suffolk county.  The county superintendent of highways of Suffolk county
may, when authorized by the Suffolk county governing  board,  erect  and
maintain  traffic  signs,  signals  and markings on, and provide traffic
engineering services in relation to any highway, road or street within a
town or village within such county, except state highways maintained  by
the  state,  providing  the governing body of the town or village having
jurisdiction over such highway, road or street determines on  the  basis
of  an  engineering  and  traffic investigation that such traffic signs,
signals and markings are  necessary,  issues  any  necessary  ordinance,
order, rule or regulation with respect thereto, consents to the erection
and maintenance of such traffic signs, signals and markings by the coun-
ty  and  consents  thereto  by written agreement with the Suffolk county
governing board as to the extent of the authority and responsibility  of
the  county  superintendent of highways of Suffolk county and any appor-
tionment of costs for the erection and maintenance of signs, signals and
markings and traffic engineering services.  The  power  granted  to  the
Suffolk  county  superintendent  of highways by this section shall in no
way diminish any power over roads granted to him by law but shall be  in
addition to any such powers.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD14744-01-9

              

A. 9236                             2

  (B)  THE  COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  HIGHWAYS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY SHALL
CONDUCT A PILOT PROGRAM DESIGNED  TO  EVALUATE  THE  USE  OF  ACCESSIBLE
PEDESTRIAN-CONTROL SIGNALS.
  1. "ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN-CONTROL SIGNAL" MEANS A DEVICE THAT COMMUNI-
CATES  INFORMATION  ABOUT PEDESTRIAN TIMING IN NON-VISUAL FORMAT SUCH AS
AUDIBLE TONES, SPEECH MESSAGES, AND/OR VIBRATING SURFACES.
  2. THE PILOT PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE THAT EACH CROSSWALK  LOCATED  ON  A
STATE  ROAD  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  SUFFOLK,  AS DESIGNATED IN SUBDIVISION
FORTY-NINE OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-ONE OF THE HIGHWAY  LAW,  THAT
IS  EQUIPPED  WITH  A PEDESTRIAN-CONTROL SIGNAL INDICATOR, AS DEFINED IN
SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED TWELVE OF THIS CHAPTER, SHALL HAVE AN  ACCESSIBLE
PEDESTRIAN-CONTROL SIGNAL WHICH INCLUDES AUDIBLE INDICATIONS OF THE WALK
INTERVAL BY SPEECH MESSAGE.
  3.  WITHIN  FIVE YEARS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS SHALL  REPORT
TO  THE  GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER
OF THE ASSEMBLY ON THE PILOT PROGRAM AND ITS RESULTS. SUCH RESULTS SHALL
INCLUDE  RECOMMENDATIONS  AS   TO   THE   FUTURE   USE   OF   ACCESSIBLE
PEDESTRIAN-CONTROL SIGNALS.
  S  2. The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000), or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of  any  moneys  in  the
state  treasury  in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes
fund, not otherwise appropriated, and made  immediately  available,  for
the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the provisions of this act. Such moneys
shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers
certified or approved  by  the  county  superintendent  of  highways  of
Suffolk county in the manner prescribed by law.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law and shall expire 5 years after such effective
date  when  upon  such  date  the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.