Senate Bill S555

                                BILL NUMBER:S555

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the highway law, in relation to directing the commissioner of
transportation, upon a finding that
a bridge has consistent structural defects and/or safety concerns,
to establish and implement
an emergency plan for the drivers and the communities affected by
the closure of such bridge

PURPOSE:
Directs the Department of Transportation
commissioner to
establish and implement an emergency plan for drivers and communities
affected by a closure of a bridge prior to such closure.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends paragraphs (d) and (e) of
subdivision 3 of section 231 of the highway law and add a new
paragraph (f) is added requiring upon the finding that a bridge has
consistent structural defects and/or safety concerns determined in
accordance with the uniform code of bridge inspection, establish and
implement an emergency plan for rerouting the traffic and for
assisting the drivers and communities affected should a closure of
such bridge be necessary.
              

Section 2 - This act shall take effect immediately.

JUSTIFICATION:
The Lake Champlain Bridge which spanned the state line between Crown
Point, New York and Chimney Point, Vermont was closed in October 2009
and demolished in December 2009 due to major structural defects. The
closure of the bridge caused economic hardship for commuters and
local businesses as traffic is greatly reduced on both sides of the
lake. The two main detours for commuters were private ferry services;
one about 15 miles south of the bridge, and the other service about
25 miles n011h of the bridge. Even with expanded hours, and New York
State subsidies, the two private services could not meet the demand
nor could they continue operating once ice formed on the Lake.

In February 2010 a temporary ferry service began operating at the site
of the original bridge. This ferry service runs approximately every
15 minutes, 24 hours a day free to riders due to a subsidy provided
by the New York State Department of Transportation.

Although the response of the closure was addressed fairly quickly, the
economic and personal disruptions could have been lessened if a plan
was in place prior to the closure of the bridge.
With many other bridges in similar or worse shape than the Lake
Champlain Bridge this legislation would assist other communities
facing similar inconveniences.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2010: S.7250 Transportation; A.10996 Transportation


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To Be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.