Senate Bill S6340

                                BILL NUMBER:S6340

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the highway law, in relation to
enabling safe access to public roads for all users by utilizing
complete street design principles

PURPOSE:

To include, when possible, complete street design features in
resurfacing, maintenance and pavement recycling projects and further
enable safe access to public roads for all users

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: amends subdivision (a) of section 331 of the highway law to
include complete streets design features in resurfacing, maintenance
and pavement recycling projects that are subject to the department of
transportation's oversight.

Section 2: sets the effective date for this act.

JUSTIFICATION:

New York State's Compete Street Law, which requires the Department of
Transportation to consider the convenient access and mobility on the
road network by all users of all ages, including motorists,
              

pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users through the
use of complete street design features, only applies to projects
classified as construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation. The law
specifically excludes projects classified as resurfacing, maintenance
and pavement recycling, which dramatically decreases the projects in
which complete-streets design features are used.

As a result of the state Department of Transportation's Preservation
First policy, nearly 80 percent of transportation funding and numerous
road projects exclude pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure,
according to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.  This exclusion of
a key component of complete-streets design runs contrary to the
original intent of the state's Complete Streets law, and this bill
would address the issue and strengthen the law.

By reforming our state's Complete Streets law, this legislation would
make dangerous intersections and roadways safer for pedestrians and
bicyclists. It would ensure our children have safer routes to school
and provide local families with more opportunities to walk and bike
safely.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:


This act shall rake effect immediately.