Senate Bill S4568B

                                BILL NUMBER:S4568

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to direct the metropolitan transportation
authority to study the feasibility and impact of installing sliding
access doors on subway platforms

PURPOSE:  This bill directs the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
to implement certain safety measures for the purposes of improving
customer safety, by: (1) conducting a study to examine the feasibility
and impact of the installation of sliding access doors upon platforms
at subway facilities; (2) ensuring proper operation of all security
cameras in subway stations; and (3) installing instant communications
devices at all subway stations capable of connecting customers with
rail control centers.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  Section 1 requires the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority to conduct a feasibility and impact study as
to the installation of sliding access doors upon authority operated
subway platforms.

Section 2 requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ensure
proper operation of its security cameras in authority operated subway
stations.

Section 3 requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to
install instant communications devices commonly referred to as "help
              

points," at authority operated subway stations. The section also
requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to implement
policies and procedures relative to customer use of such devices to
contact train control centers that oversee subway traffic.

Section 4 sets forth the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:  The rail system is part of the fabric of everyday life
for New Yorkers. NYC Transit keeps New York moving 24 hours a day,
seven days a week as some 6,400 subway cars travel over nearly 700
track miles in underground tunnels and elevated structures throughout
the boroughs of New York City. Yet, the safety of customers is not
guaranteed.

Approximately 100 people are struck by New York City Subway trains
every year and dozens of those individuals are killed. There have been
incidents in which customers are pushed or accidentally fall or climb
down intentionally to retrieve dropped items.

This bill directs the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to
implement measures that will make subways a safer place for
passengers.

Limiting unauthorized track access would prohibit these fatalities and
could result in less vandalism and litter.

Swift evaluation and accelerated implementation of the Help Point
Intercom system, which includes a feature to connect subway riders
directly to the Rail Control Center in the event of emergency would
give customers direct access to help.


Ensuring that all security cameras in New York City's subway system
are operational is essential to the safety of customers. As recently
as 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg acknowledged that "a lot of those
cameras don't work" when published reports indicated that about half
of subway station security cameras were inoperative.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.

FISCAL IMPACT: To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act will take effect immediately.

                                BILL NUMBER:S4568A

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to direct the metropolitan transportation authority to study
the feasibility and impact of installing sliding access doors on
subway platforms, ensure proper operation of security cameras and
install instant communications devices

PURPOSE:

This bill directs the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to
implement certain safety measures for the purposes of improving
customer safety, by: (1) conducting a study to examine the feasibility
and impact of the installation of sliding access doors upon platforms
at subway facilities; (2) ensuring proper operation of all security
cameras in subway stations; and (3) installing instant communications
devices at all subway stations capable of connecting customers with
rail control centers.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to
conduct a feasibility and impact study as to the installation of
sliding access doors upon authority operated subway platforms.

              

Section 2 requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ensure
proper operation of its security cameras in authority operated subway
stations. Additionally, this Section mandates that the Authority shall
publish an annual report disclosing systemwide security camera
failures, as well as a series of metrics relative to these failures.

Section 3 requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to
install instant communications devices commonly referred to as "help
points," at all Authority operated subway stations. The section also
requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to implement
policies and procedures relative to customer use of such devices to
contact train control centers that oversee subway traffic. Further,
this Section mandates that the Authority provide the public with a
date by which the installation of instant communications devices will
be completed and annual status reports as to the progress of "help
point" installations across the system.

Section 4 sets forth the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

The rail system is part of the fabric of everyday life for New
Yorkers. NYC Transit keeps New York moving 24 hours a day, seven days
a week as some 6,400 subway cars travel over nearly 700 track miles in
underground tunnels and elevated structures throughout the boroughs of
New York City. Yet, the safety of customers is not guaranteed.

Approximately 100 people are struck by New York City Subway trains
every year and dozens of those individuals are killed. There have been
incidents in which customers are pushed or accidentally fall or climb
down intentionally to retrieve dropped items.


This bill directs the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to
implement measures that will make subways a safer place for
passengers.  Limiting unauthorized track access would prohibit these
fatalities and could result in less vandalism and litter.

Swift evaluation and accelerated implementation of the Help Point
Intercom system, which includes a feature to connect subway riders
directly to the Rail Control Center in the event of emergency would
give customers direct access to help.

Ensuring that all security cameras in New York City's subway system
are operational is essential to the safety of customers. As recently
as 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg acknowledged that "a lot of those
cameras don't work" when published reports indicated that about half
of subway station security cameras were inoperative.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

FISCAL IMPACT:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act will take effect immediately after it becomes law.