S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10176--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 22, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. D. ROSENTHAL, HEVESI, ROZIC, WEPRIN, HYNDMAN,
   BARNWELL, VANEL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK  --  read  once
   and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commis-
   sions  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT in relation to directing the metropolitan transportation authori-
   ty to study and  report  on  the  feasibility  of  rehabilitating  the
   Lefferts Boulevard Bridge
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.   Legislative intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
 declares  that the Lefferts Boulevard Bridge is an essential almost 100-
 year-old structure in Kew Gardens, Queens that has  been  owned  by  the
 MTA/Long  Island  Rail  Road since 1925. The bridge has been an integral
 and essential focal point for community life in Kew Gardens for the past
 century.  Presently, the bridge is home  to  a  series  of  longstanding
 local  businesses, many of which have served the community, and contrib-
 uted substantial revenues to the MTA, for  multiple  generations,  while
 hard  at  work  in their humble storefronts on top of the bridge. For at
 least the past thirty years, the MTA/LIRR has let the bridge deteriorate
 to the point where it appears to be structurally compromised due to lack
 of attention, investment and proper maintenance.  These  neglectful  and
 inattentive  acts  have led the MTA/LIRR to declare that the only option
 available as a next course of  action  is  complete  demolition  of  the
 bridge.  However,  widespread demolition is unpalatable to the community
 for many reasons, including displacement of the businesses,  disposition
 of  the  property  and  disruption  to essential quality of life issues.
 Furthermore, the affected community  believes  that  rehabilitation  and
 reconstruction  of  the  bridge decking is possible and has retained its
 own experts to provide evidence to this effect. Additionally,  the  LIRR
 also commissioned a 2016 inspection report that indicated, in exhaustive
 detail,  the  steps  necessary to repair the present deficiencies of the
 bridge, in contrast to demolition.  However, the MTA has yet to consider
 these rehabilitative options, which would cost only a fraction of  demo-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15211-03-8

 A. 10176--A                         2
 
 lition. Given the vast importance of the future of the bridge, the asso-
 ciated  businesses  and public safety, it is in the best interest of all
 parties that the MTA undertake a feasibility study of other alternatives
 with specific research centering around the impacts, economic and other-
 wise, to the affected community.
   §  2.  The metropolitan transportation authority shall conduct a study
 to examine the feasibility and  impact  of  the  rehabilitation  of  the
 Lefferts Boulevard Bridge. Such study shall focus on the costs and bene-
 fits of such rehabilitation and shall include, but not be limited to the
 following issues:
   (a) all feasible alternatives to demolishing the bridge;
   (b) the economic impact of all such alternatives;
   (c)  a  plan  for  preserving, without interruption, all businesses in
 place that currently occupy surface space above the bridge; and
   (d) the economic impact to surrounding businesses  if  such  rehabili-
 tation does not occur.
   §  3.  Within  ninety  days  after the effective date of this act, the
 chairman of the metropolitan transportation  authority  shall  submit  a
 written  report  to  the  governor,  temporary  president of the senate,
 speaker of the assembly and mayor of the city  of  New  York,  with  the
 findings  and recommendations of the study conducted pursuant to section
 two of this act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.