S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
S. 2977 A. 4578
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
February 4, 2011
___________
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Trans-
portation
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. SILVER -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing
an intercity bus passenger service permit system in cities having a
population of one million or more
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 1642-a to read as follows:
S 1642-A. INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE PERMIT SYSTEM IN CITIES
HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE. 1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN
THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
A. "COMMUNITY BOARD" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED OF THE NEW YORK CITY CHARTER;
B. "INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE" SHALL MEAN TRANSPORTATION BY BUS
PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC ON A REGULAR AND CONTINUING BASIS BY A PERSON,
FIRM, OR CORPORATION AUTHORIZED TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN INTERSTATE
COMMERCE BY THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OR IN INTRA-
STATE COMMERCE BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT IS PRIMA-
RILY INTENDED TO SATISFY LONGER DISTANCE TRAVEL DEMAND BETWEEN CITIES,
AND VILLAGES AND UNINCORPORATED URBAN PLACES; AND
C. "METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN THE CORPORATION
CREATED BY SECTION TWELVE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
LAW.
2. EXEMPTIONS. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY
TRANSPORTATION FOR COMPENSATION WHEN THAT TRANSPORTATION IS PERFORMED:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08953-01-1
S. 2977 2 A. 4578
A. INCIDENTAL TO OR IN FURTHERANCE OF ANY NON-TRANSPORTATION COMMER-
CIAL OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTERPRISE OF THE PROVIDER OF THE TRANSPORTATION
WHEN SUCH TRANSPORTATION IS NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC;
B. TO AND FROM SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-RELATED ACTIVITIES;
C. ON AN OCCASIONAL, CASUAL OR RECIPROCAL BASIS BY PERSONS NOT ENGAGED
IN TRANSPORTATION AS A REGULAR OCCUPATION OR BUSINESS;
D. AS A SIGHTSEEING SERVICE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE JURISDICTION OR
REGULATORY CONTROL OF A CITY, VILLAGE OR TOWN WHEN SUCH SERVICE IS OPER-
ATED WHOLLY WITHIN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE;
E. IN AMBULANCES THAT ARE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE NEW YORK STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH;
F. BY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES WHEN THE TRANSPORTATION PERFORMED IS
WHOLLY WITHIN THE TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT PRESCRIBED BY THE PUBLIC
AUTHORITIES LAW FOR SUCH TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY;
G. BY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THAT ARE WHOLLY OWNED BY A MUNICIPALITY
WHEN THE TRANSPORTATION PERFORMED IS WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH MUNICIPALITY'S
BOUNDARIES;
H. BY BUSES OPERATING WHOLLY WITHIN ANY CITY;
I. BY CARRIERS OPERATING UNDER A CONTRACT WITH AN EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF EMPLOYEES; AND
J. AS A TAXI OR LIVERY SERVICE CONDUCTED IN VEHICLES HAVING A SEATING
CAPACITY OF TWENTY PASSENGERS OR LESS PURSUANT TO THE JURISDICTION OR
REGULATORY CONTROL OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION OVER ONE MILLION, WHEN
SUCH SERVICE IS CONDUCTED WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH A CITY.
3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, EACH CITY WITH A POPU-
LATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE MAY, BY ADOPTION OF A LOCAL LAW OR ORDI-
NANCE:
A. ESTABLISH A PERMIT SYSTEM FOR THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF PASSEN-
GERS ON STREETS WITHIN SUCH CITY BY BUSES OPERATING IN INTERCITY BUS
PASSENGER SERVICE; AND
B. PROHIBIT BUSES OPERATING IN INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE FROM
LOADING OR UNLOADING PASSENGERS ON STREETS WITHIN SUCH CITY WITHOUT A
PERMIT ISSUED PURSUANT TO ANY SUCH LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE OR IN
VIOLATION OF ANY PERMIT REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS. PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING A PERMIT SYSTEM THE CITY AGENCY DESIGNATED PURSU-
ANT TO PARAGRAPH A OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION SHALL, IN CONSUL-
TATION WITH THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND COMMUNITY
BOARDS, IDENTIFY A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF LOCATIONS FOR THE LOADING AND
UNLOADING OF PASSENGERS BY SUCH BUSES.
4. THE LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR SUCH PERMIT SYSTEM:
A. SHALL DESIGNATE A CITY AGENCY WHICH SHALL ASSUME THE REGULATORY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH PERMIT SYSTEM INCLUDING THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS,
THE DESIGNATION OF LOCATIONS FOR THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF PASSEN-
GERS, AND THE DESIGNATION OF STREETS OR AREAS WHERE THE LOADING OR
UNLOADING OF PASSENGERS MAY BE PROHIBITED;
B. SHALL ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS WHICH SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, REQUIRING THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OF AN
INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE TO SUBMIT A PERMIT APPLICATION FOR EACH
PROPOSED LOCATION FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING PASSENGERS WHICH APPLICATION
SHALL INCLUDE THE NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS AND
MOTOR CARRIER NUMBER OF THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OF SUCH INTERCITY BUS
PASSENGER SERVICE, THE FOLLOWING IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FOR EACH BUS TO
BE USED IN SUCH INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE: UNITED STATES DEPART-
MENT OF TRANSPORTATION NUMBER AND/OR NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANS-
PORTATION NUMBER; A PROPOSED LOCATION, AND TWO OR MORE ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSED LOCATIONS, FOR THE LOADING OR UNLOADING OF PASSENGERS; THE
S. 2977 3 A. 4578
NUMBER OF BUSES THAT WOULD USE THE DESIGNATED LOCATION FOR THE LOADING
OR UNLOADING OF PASSENGERS; THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ANTICIPATED FOR
EACH BUS; THE NUMBER OF BUSES THAT WOULD USE THE DESIGNATED LOCATION FOR
EACH BUS; THE PROPOSED BUS SCHEDULE; THE PROPOSED GARAGE OR PARKING
LOCATION OF THE BUSES DURING PERIODS WHEN THE BUSES ARE NOT BEING USED
FOR INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE; AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED
NECESSARY BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY AGENCY DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO
PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION;
C. SHALL AUTHORIZE THE CITY AGENCY DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A
OF THIS SUBDIVISION TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLE-
MENTATION OF SUCH LOCAL LAW WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
(I) PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRITERIA
ESTABLISHED BY SUCH LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE;
(II) ESTABLISHING CRITERIA TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE PERMIT APPLICA-
TIONS, WHICH MUST INCLUDE AT MINIMUM A THIRTY DAY NOTICE AND COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND THE RELEVANT
COMMUNITY BOARD AND A PROCESS FOR APPLICANTS TO APPEAL A DISAPPROVAL OF
A PERMIT APPLICATION;
(III) ESTABLISHING CRITERIA FOR ASSIGNING LOCATIONS TO PERMIT APPLI-
CANTS FOR THE LOADING OR UNLOADING OF PASSENGERS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE,
BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE APPLICANT'S PREFERENCES, TRAFFIC AND SAFETY
CONSIDERATIONS, CONSIDERATION OF COMMENTS FROM THE METROPOLITAN TRANS-
PORTATION AUTHORITY AND THE RELEVANT COMMUNITY BOARD, AND ANY OTHER
CRITERIA DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COMMISSIONER OF SUCH AGENCY;
(IV) ESTABLISHING A PROCESS TO REVIEW AND RENDER A FINAL ADMINISTRA-
TIVE DETERMINATION ON ANY APPLICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT WITH-
IN NINETY DAYS AFTER A COMPLETED APPLICATION IS FILED;
(V) ESTABLISHING CRITERIA FOR GRANTING A WAIVER OF ANY OR ALL REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR AN OWNER OR OPERATOR OF INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE THAT
INFREQUENTLY LOADS OR UNLOADS PASSENGERS IN SUCH CITY, OR BASED ON OPER-
ATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, AND A PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR SUCH A WAIVER;
AND
(VI) PROVIDING THAT PERMITS MAY BE ISSUED FOR UP TO THREE YEARS,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE CITY AGENCY DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH
A OF THIS SUBDIVISION MAY RELOCATE A DESIGNATED LOCATION, UPON THIRTY
DAYS' NOTICE TO THE HOLDER OF THE PERMIT, THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTA-
TION AUTHORITY AND THE RELEVANT COMMUNITY BOARD BASED ON CITY NEEDS AS
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF SUCH AGENCY;
D. SHALL REQUIRE THE OWNER OR OPERATOR OF AN INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER
SERVICE TO PROMINENTLY DISPLAY A COPY OF SUCH PERMIT IN EACH BUS THAT
USES A DESIGNATED LOCATION FOR THE LOADING OR UNLOADING OF PASSENGERS;
E. SHALL PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC NOTICE OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS WITHIN FIVE
BUSINESS DAYS OF SUBMISSION THEREOF;
F. SHALL PROVIDE THAT, AS A CONDITION TO OBTAINING A PERMIT PURSUANT
TO A LOCAL LAW OR ORDINANCE ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, EVERY
PERMIT APPLICANT SHALL OBTAIN AND CONTINUE IN EFFECT A SURETY BOND IN
THE AMOUNT OF FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS EXECUTED BY A SURETY COMPANY AUTHOR-
IZED TO TRANSACT BUSINESS IN THE STATE BY THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT OF
THE STATE. THE BONDS SHALL BE APPROVED AS TO FORM BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
THE CITY AGENCY DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION
AND SHALL BE CONDITIONED ON THE PERMIT APPLICANT'S OR HOLDER'S PAYMENT
OF ALL CIVIL PENALTIES IMPOSED UPON THE PERMIT APPLICANT OR HOLDER FOR
OPERATING AN INTERCITY BUS PASSENGER SERVICE THAT LOADS OR UNLOADS
PASSENGERS ON STREETS WITHIN SUCH CITY IN VIOLATION OF ANY PERMIT
REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS. RECOVERY AGAINST A BOND MAY BE MADE BY
SUCH CITY WHICH OBTAINS A JUDGMENT AGAINST THE PERMIT APPLICANT OR HOLD-
S. 2977 4 A. 4578
ER FOR AN ACT OR OMISSION ON WHICH THE BOND IS CONDITIONED IF THE ACT OR
OMISSION OCCURRED DURING THE TERM OF THE BOND. THE TOTAL LIABILITY
IMPOSED ON THE SURETY UNDER THIS SECTION FOR ALL BREACHES OF THE BOND
CONDITION IS LIMITED TO THE FACE AMOUNT OF THE BOND. SUCH LIABILITY MAY
INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE AMOUNT OF THE FINES IMPOSED AND
UNPAID. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SURETY ON A BOND BE LIABLE FOR TOTAL
CLAIMS IN EXCESS OF THE BOND AMOUNT, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OR NATURE
OF CLAIMS MADE AGAINST THE BOND OR THE NUMBER OF YEARS THE BOND REMAINED
IN FORCE. ANY SURETY ISSUING A BOND PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL
BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SIXTY DAYS' NOTICE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
CITY AGENCY DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION PRIOR
TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CANCELLATION OF THE BOND;
G. SHALL CONTAIN ADEQUATE REGULATORY AND ENFORCEMENT CRITERIA;
H. MAY PROVIDE FOR THE IMPOSITION OF AN ANNUAL FEE FOR SUCH PERMIT NOT
TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS PER VEHICLE;
I. SHALL PROVIDE THAT SUCH FEES SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND
OF THE CITY; AND
J. MAY PROVIDE FOR:
(A) A CIVIL PENALTY FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING PASSENGERS ON A CITY
STREET WITHOUT A PERMIT OR FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY PERMIT
REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTION PROVIDED THAT SUCH CIVIL PENALTIES SHALL NOT
BE MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND FOR A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT
VIOLATION WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE FIRST VIOLATION SHALL NOT BE MORE THAN
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS; AND
(B) SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A PERMIT FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH
ANY PERMIT REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS.
5. NO ORDINANCE SHALL BE ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION UNTIL A
PUBLIC HEARING THEREON HAS BEEN HAD IN THE SAME MANNER AS REQUIRED FOR
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A LOCAL LAW PURSUANT TO THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.