BILL NUMBER: S100A

SPONSOR: RYAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to requiring the consider-
ation of complete street design for certain transportation projects
which receive federal or state funding

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would expand the state's current complete street design prin-
ciples policy to include all state, county and local transportation
projects that are undertaken by the New York State Department of Trans-
portation (DOT) or receive federal, state or both federal and state
funding. DOT would be directed to compile and make publicly available
design guidance and reference materials related to consideration of
complete street design.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

§ 1-Amends subdivision (a) of § 331 of the Highway Law to expand the
              

state's current complete street design principles policy to include all
state, county and local transportation projects that are undertaken by
the DOT or receive federal, state or both federal and state funding.
Adds a new subdivision (e) directing the DOT to compile and make public-
ly available design guidance and reference materials related to consid-
eration of complete street design.

§ 2-Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Chapter 398 of the Laws of 2011 established in New York State Law a
complete street design policy that was intended to provide safe and
cost-effective way to facilitate access and improve mobility for pedes-
trians, cyclists, mass transportation riders and motorists.  Ultimately,
the law established a policy that would consider the needs of all users
of our roads, encourage planning, design, construction, reconstruction
and rehabilitation to benefit a variety of citizens, encourage sustaina-
ble communities and thus, would improve air quality, decrease traffic
congestion and preserve our natural assets.

The current law, however, hampers its application due to language that
only requires the complete street design principles on transportation
projects undertaken by the DOT or that receive both federal and state
funding. Instead of being an all-encompassing policy that would provide
for wide-spread usage at all levels of transportation project s, truly
impacting pedestrians, cyclists, mass transportation riders and further-
ing the state's commitment to climate leadership actions, its limited
scope has allowed for transportation projects not receiving federal and
state funding to go forward and be completed without this holistic plan-
ning and construction approach. This has caused many communities who
would have likely included non-motorized transportation options, such as
walking or bicycling, out of the planning and construction of their
transportation projects.

This legislation will expand the state's current complete street design
principles policy to include all state, county and local transportation
projects that are undertaken by the DOT or receive federal, state or
both federal and state funding.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2022: S8394/A8624

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that this act shall not
apply to transportation projects undertaken or approved prior to the
date on which this act shall have become a law.  Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.