S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2673
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 24, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RODRIGUEZ -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, the environmental conserva-
tion law and the highway law, in relation to memorializing Robert F.
Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos by
renaming certain spans of the Triborough bridge after such men
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby
recognizes Robert F. Kennedy by naming after him a span of the Tribor-
ough bridge, as a tribute befitting his historic contribution to the
state of New York and the nation. Robert F. Kennedy represented the
state of New York in the United States Senate with great distinction,
from 1965 until his untimely death in 1968, working tirelessly to
improve the lives of New Yorkers, fighting poverty and advancing the
civil rights movement. The state of New York and our entire nation were
further enriched by Robert F. Kennedy's prior service as the sixty-
fourth Attorney General of the United States, and trusted advisor to the
President. Common throughout his many works was an effort to bridge the
gaps among persons of diverse racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds.
Accordingly, the legislature hereby names the span of the Triborough
bridge which stretches over the East river from the borough of Queens to
Ward's Island the Robert F. Kennedy bridge.
The legislature further recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in
this forty-ninth year following his tragic assassination, by naming
after him a span of the Triborough bridge, as a tribute befitting his
historic contributions to the nation. Dr. King worked tirelessly to
improve the lives of the citizens of this country, fighting segregation
and discrimination through non-violent protest and advancing the civil
rights movement, until his untimely death in 1968. The state of New York
and our entire nation were enriched by Dr. King's dedication, example
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06925-01-9
A. 2673 2
and sacrifices. Common throughout his many works was an effort to bridge
the gaps among persons of diverse racial, ethnic and economic back-
grounds. Accordingly, the legislature hereby names the span of the
Triborough bridge which stretches from Randall's Island to Manhattan the
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. bridge.
The legislature also hereby recognizes Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, by
naming after him a span of the Triborough bridge, as a tribute befitting
his historic contributions to the nation of Puerto Rico. Dr. Albizu
Campos, the most prominent Puerto Rican political figure of the 20th
century, was instrumental in Puerto Rico's fight for independence until
his death in 1965. Accordingly, the legislature hereby names the span of
the Triborough bridge which stretches from Randall's Island to the Bronx
the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos bridge.
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 9 of section 553 of the public
authorities law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2008, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) [a bridge] THREE BRIDGES heretofore constructed[, known as Robert
F. Kennedy bridge,] over the East river from the borough of Queens to
[the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, over and across] Ward's island
[and Randall's island in said river] SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE ROBERT F.
KENNEDY BRIDGE; OVER THE EAST RIVER FROM RANDALL'S ISLAND IN SAID RIVER
TO THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR. BRIDGE; AND OVER THE BRONX KILL FROM RANDALL'S ISLAND IN SAID
RIVER TO THE BOROUGH OF THE BRONX, SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE DR. PEDRO ALBI-
ZU CAMPOS BRIDGE, together with such incidental bridges and structures
as shall be necessary or convenient in order to give access from the
[bridge] BRIDGES to both of said islands, together with approaches to
said bridges (herein collectively referred to as the "[Robert F. Kenne-
dy] TRIBUTE bridge project"); and
§ 3. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 10 of section 553 of the
public authorities law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2008,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) in the case of the [Robert F. Kennedy] TRIBUTE bridge project and
the Whitestone bridge project to pay to the city not exceeding thirty-
five per centum of the cost (including awards for damages and expenses)
of the acquisition of land for the widening of existing roads, streets,
parkways or avenues and for new roads, streets, parkways or avenues,
connecting with the approaches.
(b) to purchase from the persons, partnerships, associations or corpo-
rations who were the owners of any land acquired for the widening of
existing roads, streets, parkways or avenues or for new roads, streets,
parkways or avenues connecting with the approaches or of any interest in
such land at the date title to such land was vested in the city in any
proceeding heretofore or hereafter instituted for the acquisition there-
of by condemnation, or from their successors in interest or legal repre-
sentatives, their right, title, interest and/or claim in and to the
award or awards or any part thereof to be made in such proceeding after
the date of such purchase, and to take an assignment thereof to the
authority, provided, however, that in the case of the [Robert F. Kenne-
dy] TRIBUTE bridge project and the Whitestone bridge project the aggre-
gate amount expended by the authority on account of all such purchases
together with the aggregate amount paid to the city in accordance with
paragraph (a) of this subdivision, shall not exceed thirty-five per
centum of the cost (including awards for damages and expenses) of the
acquisition of land for the widening of existing roads, streets, park-
A. 2673 3
ways or avenues, and for new roads, streets, parkways or avenues,
connecting with the approaches,
§ 4. Subdivision 2 of section 563 of the public authorities law, as
amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as
follows:
2. The state of New York does covenant and agree with the holders of
any bonds issued after January first, nineteen hundred forty that no
tunnel, bridge, parkway, causeway, street, road, highway or other
connection for vehicular traffic (other than one of the projects), which
will be competitive with the [Robert F. Kennedy] TRIBUTE bridge project
or the Whitestone bridge project or the Throgs Neck bridge project or
the Marine parkway bridge project or the Cross Bay parkway bridge
project will be constructed or maintained until the bonds together with
interest thereon, interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and
all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by
or on behalf of the bondholders, are fully met and discharged; provided
that a tunnel, bridge, parkway, causeway, street, road, highway or other
connection for vehicular traffic shall be considered as competitive with
the [Robert F. Kennedy] TRIBUTE bridge project or Whitestone bridge
project or the Throgs Neck bridge project only if it shall form a
connection for vehicular traffic over, under, or across the East river
north of an extension to the east of the center line of Seventy-third
street in the borough of Manhattan, and shall be considered as compet-
itive with the Marine parkway bridge project or Cross Bay parkway bridge
project only if such tunnel, bridge, parkway, causeway, street, road,
highway or other connection for vehicular traffic shall form a
connection for vehicular traffic with Rockaway peninsula across any part
of the waters of Jamaica bay or Rockaway inlet west of seventy-three
degrees, forty-six minutes of west longitude. The covenant herein
contained restricting competitive traffic connections with any project
or projects shall be only for the benefit of the holders of bonds
secured in whole or in part by the pledge of the revenues of such
project or projects. All covenants of the state made with the holders
of bonds issued before January first, nineteen hundred and forty, are
hereby confirmed and shall not be affected hereby.
§ 5. Subdivision 4 of section 13-0341 of the environmental conserva-
tion law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2008, is amended to
read as follows:
4. In the Harlem River and the East River east of the Robert F. Kenne-
dy [Bridge], DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS
BRIDGES and in Long Island Sound west of a line drawn from Hewlett's
(King's) Point to the north end of Hart Island, thence to the south end
of Glen Island, and in their adjacent bays, coves, creeks and confluent
waters.
§ 6. Subdivision 3 of section 13-0343 of the environmental conserva-
tion law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2008, is amended to
read as follows:
3. In the Harlem River and the East River east of the Robert F. Kenne-
dy [Bridge], DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS
BRIDGES and in Long Island Sound west of a line drawn from Hewlett's
(King's) Point to the north end of Hart Island, thence to the south end
of Glen Island, and in their adjacent bays, coves, creeks and confluent
waters, only such nets as are used to take lobsters or crabs may be
used.
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§ 7. Subdivision 6 of section 13-0347 of the environmental conserva-
tion law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2008, is amended to
read as follows:
6. In all waters from the Robert F. Kennedy [bridge], DR. MARTIN LUTH-
ER KING, JR. AND DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS BRIDGES west through the East
River, Harlem River and those portions of the Hudson River south of the
George Washington bridge to a line drawn from Rockaway Point to Romer
Shoals lighthouse, no person shall use a net to take fish, except that
landing nets and nets of not more than 10 feet in length, operated by
hand, may be used to take bait and shrimp, and cast nets may be used to
take Atlantic menhaden and mullets as provided in subdivision one of
section 13-0343 of this title.
§ 8. The paragraph relating to interstate route connection 512 of
section 340-a of the highway law, as amended by chapter 288 of the laws
of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
Interstate Route Connection 512. Staten Island expressway from
Goethals bridge approach to Verrazzano-Narrows bridge approach, Brook-
lyn-Queens expressway from Verrazzano-Narrows bridge approach to Grand
Central parkway, Grand Central parkway from Brooklyn-Queens expressway
to [Robert F. Kennedy] THE DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS bridge approach,
Major Deegan expressway from Robert F. Kennedy bridge approach to the
Westchester county line connecting with interstate route 502.
§ 9. The paragraph relating to interstate route connection 516 of
section 340-a of the highway law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws
of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
Interstate Route Connection 516. Bruckner expressway from [Robert F.
Kennedy] DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS bridge approach to Cross-Bronx express-
way.
§ 10. Section 349-f of the highway law, as amended by chapter 288 of
the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
§ 349-f. New York city routes. The following existing or proposed main
routes or thoroughfares, are designated herein, as aforesaid, viz.:
New England thruway from the Westchester county line to Bruckner
expressway; Bruckner expressway from New England thruway to [Robert F.
Kennedy] DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS bridge approach; Hutchinson river park-
way from the Westchester county line to the Bronx-Whitestone bridge
approach; Bronx river parkway from the Westchester county line to Bruck-
ner expressway; Henry Hudson parkway from the Westchester county line to
Miller highway excepting the Henry Hudson bridge, provided that no
portion of this route from West Seventy-second street to the Cross Bronx
expressway shall be constructed or reconstructed so as to encroach in
any way on or over any land mapped or used for park purposes except for
such temporary encroachment of no more than ten feet in width from
seventy-third street to seventy-sixth street as may be essential during
and for the purpose of reconstruction or repair of the existing roadway
following which there shall be full restoration of park land; Major
Deegan expressway from the [Robert F. Kennedy] DR. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS
bridge to Central Park avenue at the Westchester county line together
with a connection to Broadway and along Broadway to Manhattan college
parkway; Cross Bronx expressway from George Washington bridge approach
to Throgs Neck bridge; Throgs Neck expressway from Bruckner expressway
to Throgs Neck bridge; Arthur V. Sheridan expressway from Cross-Bronx
expressway to Bruckner expressway; Mosholu parkway from Henry Hudson
parkway to Bronx river parkway; Bronx and Pelham parkway from Bronx
river parkway to New England thruway; Boston road from Bronx and Pelham
parkway to New England thruway; Miller highway from Henry Hudson parkway
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to the Hugh L. Carey tunnel; and from Hugh L. Carey tunnel to Brooklyn-
Queens expressway; Franklin D. Roosevelt drive from the Hugh L. Carey
tunnel to [Robert F. Kennedy] THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. bridge
approach; Harlem river drive from [Robert F. Kennedy] THE DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. bridge approach to George Washington bridge approach;
Belt parkway including Gowanus parkway to Third avenue and Sixtieth
street, Leif Erikson drive to Knapp street, Shore parkway, Belt parkway,
Southern parkway and Cross Island parkway from Hugh L. Carey tunnel to
Bronx-Whitestone bridge approach; Nassau expressway from Southern park-
way to the Nassau county line; Brooklyn-Queens expressway from Gowanus
expressway to Grand Central parkway; Prospect expressway from Gowanus
expressway to Ocean parkway; Ocean parkway from Prospect expressway to
Shore parkway; Interborough parkway from Grand Central Parkway to Belt
parkway; Gowanus expressway from the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge to Third
avenue at Gowanus parkway; Third Avenue from Gowanus expressway to
Hamilton avenue; Hamilton Avenue from Third Avenue to Hugh L. Carey
tunnel; Queens boulevard from Queensborough bridge approach to Van Wyck
expressway; Van Wyck expressway from Whitestone expressway, including a
connection to Grand Central parkway, to John F. Kennedy international
airport; Woodhaven boulevard from Queens boulevard to Cross Bay parkway
bridge northerly approach; Cross Bay parkway from Cross Bay bridge
southerly approach to Short Front parkway; Shore Front parkway from
Cross Bay parkway generally along the shore line of the Atlantic ocean
to the Nassau expressway at the Nassau county line; Queens-Midtown
expressway from Queens-Midtown tunnel approach to Queens Boulevard;
Horace Harding expressway from Queens Boulevard to the Nassau county
line; a connection between Brooklyn-Queens expressway and Northern
boulevard in the vicinity of Grand Central parkway; Grand Central park-
way from Robert F. Kennedy bridge approach to Nassau county line; White-
stone expressway from Bronx-Whitestone bridge approach to Van Wyck
expressway and continuing to Grand Central parkway; Clearview expressway
from Throgs Neck bridge to Nassau expressway; Richmond parkway from
Staten Island expressway to Outerbridge crossing approach; Staten Island
expressway from Goethals bridge to the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge with a
connection to Bayonne bridge; Willowbrook parkway from Staten Island
expressway to Great Kills park; West Shore expressway from Staten Island
expressway to Outerbridge crossing; Shore Front drive northerly from the
terminus of West Shore expressway at Staten Island expressway, thence
generally along the shore lines of Kill Van Kull, the Narrows, Lower New
York bay and Raritan bay to the approach to Outerbridge crossing.
§ 11. Terms occurring in laws, regulations, contracts and other docu-
ments. Whenever Triborough bridge is referred to or designated in any
law, regulation, contract or document, such reference or designation
shall be deemed to refer to the Robert F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos bridges, collectively, and no
such laws, regulations, contracts or other documents shall be thereby
impaired in any way.
§ 12. The New York state department of transportation, the New York
city department of transportation and the Triborough bridge and tunnel
authority shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate
signage in conformance with paragraph (a) of subdivision 9 of section
553 of the public authorities law, as amended by section two of this act
within such time and in such manner as they shall deem appropriate.
§ 13. This act shall take effect immediately.