S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6663--A
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 24, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MENG, LATIMER, REILLY, GALEF, JEFFRIES, SPANO,
COLTON, M. MILLER, JACOBS, ROBINSON, AUBRY, ROBERTS -- Multi-Sponsored
by -- M. of A. ARROYO, CASTELLI, GIBSON, HIKIND, MONTESANO, RAIA,
P. RIVERA, 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
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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09843-03-1
A. 6663--A 2
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
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.