Senate Bill S3325

                                BILL NUMBER:S3325

TITLE  OF  BILL:    An  act  to  amend  the public authorities law, in
relation to directing the  metropolitan  transportation  authority  to
authorize  students, attending elementary or secondary schools outside
of the borough in which they reside, to pay a  fare  for  express  bus
service at one-half regular rate therefor

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To  provide  continued express bus Service to the downtown and midtown
business districts of Manhattan.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds a new Section 16-a,  which  directs  the  Metropolitan
Transportation  Authority  (MTA)  to fund and operate existing express
bus service routes servicing the South Shore of Staten  Island  within
the city of New York to the downtown and midtown business districts of
Manhattan.

JUSTIFICATION:

According  to  U.S. Census data released in early March 2000, Richmond
County (Staten Island) is ranked as the fastest growing county in  New
York  State.  The  South  Shore  of  Staten  Island,  specifically the
              

communities of Tottenville, Richmond Valley,  Prince's  Hay,  Pleasant
Plains,  Charleston,  Woodrow  and  Rossville, is the only area of its
size (in terms of population and geography) excluded  from  the  MTA's
full  range  of publicly provided surface transit services to and from
Manhattan's downtown and midtown business districts.

The MTA operates 30 express bus routes in Staten Island, all north  of
Huguenot  Avenue.  Residents there can find and utilize an express bus
route merely a couple of blocks from their residences.  Yet,  the  MTA
does  not  provide  adequate  service  south of Huguenot Avenue in the
South Shore area. Due to the lack of service,  South  Shore  residents
who  currently  opt for bus service must either take MTA local service
to an MTA express stop and then transfer, or take private express  bus
or  charter bus service through New Jersey. The MTA needs to establish
express bus service throughout all of Staten  Island  to  address  the
transportation  inequities  in the South Shore and grant its residents
the same convenience afforded to the rest of the borough and New  York
City. In 2000 legislation was passed by the Senate and Assembly to add
needed  express  bus  service.  This  legislation  was  vetoed  by the
Governor because an agreement was made through the MTA  to  serve  the
residents  of  the  South Shore with three express buses, two of which
are operated by a private bus company.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014: S.2304B referred to corporations, authorities  and  commissions/
A.4407-B  print number 4407b
2013:  referred  to  Transportation/A.4407  referred  to Corporations,
Authorities and Commissions
2012:  S.7156  -  Referred  to  Transportation/A.10435-  Referred   to
Corporations


2010:   S.509   -  Referred  to  Transportation/A.2615.-  Referred  to
Corporations.
2009:   S.509   Referred   to   Transportation/A.2615-   Referred   to
Corporations
2008:  S.3038  -  Referred  to  Transportation/A.2415-   Referred   to
Corporations
2007:   S.3038   -  Referred  to  Transportation/A.2415-  Referred  to
Corporations
2006:  S.1842  -  Referred  to  Transportation/A.3535-   Referred   to
Corporations
2005:   S.1842   -  Referred  to  Transportation/A.3535-  Referred  to
Corporations
2004:  S.7542  -  Referred  to  Transportation/A.11626-  Referred   to
Corporations
2001: Veto 94

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

30th day.