NY State Senate Bill 2023-S9313

Senate Bill S9313

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires certain public authorities to develop a feasibility study to promote bicycle and pedestrian access on bridges

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 10, 2024	referred to transportation

2023-S9313 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8300
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§543, 593, 669, 718 & 390, Pub Auth L

2023-S9313 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the New York state bridge authority, the Triborough bridge authority, the Thousand Islands bridge authority, the Nassau county bridge authority, the Ogdensburg bridge authority, and the New York state thruway authority to develop a feasibility study to promote bicycle and pedestrian access on bridges and provide a report to the governor, temporary president of the senate, speaker of the assembly, and the public a copy of such plan.

2023-S9313 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9313

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
certain public authorities to develop a feasibility study to promote
bicyclist and pedestrian access on bridges statewide and to consider the
impact of capital projects on bicyclist and pedestrian access

 
PURPOSE:

Bill to direct the New York State Bridge Authority, Thousand islands
Bridge Authority, Nassau County Bridge Authority, Ogdensburg Bridge and
Port Authority, and New York State Thruway Authority to develop a feasi-
bility study to promote bicyclist and pedestrian access on NYS bridges
and to consider the impact of capital projects on bicyclist and pedes-
trian access.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the public authorities law to direct the NYS Bridge

Authority to develop a bridge access feasibility study to improve bicy-
cle and pedestrian access to roadway bridges.

Section 2. Amends the public authorities law to direct the Thousand
Islands Bridge Authority to develop a bridge access feasibility study to
improve bicycle and pedestrian access to roadway bridges.

Section 3. Amends the public authorities law to direct the Nassau County
Bridge Authority to develop a bridge access feasibility study to improve
bicycle and pedestrian access to roadway bridges.

Section 4. Amends the public authorities law to direct the Ogdensburg
Bridge and Port Authority to develop a bridge access feasibility study
to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to roadway bridges.

Section 5. Amends the public authorities law to direct the NYS Thruway
Authority to develop a bridge access feasibility study to improve bicy-
cle and pedestrian access to roadway bridges.

Section 6. Sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State's bridges, many of which were built decades ago, are
poorly designed for pedestrians and bicyclists. Improving pedestrian and
bicyclist access on bridges would encourage more New Yorkers to choose
walking or biking as an affordable, low-carbon mode of transportation.
Given that the transportation sector accounts for roughly 28% of state-
wide greenhouse gas emissions, promoting such low-carbon transportation
options is essential for achieving New York's emissions reduction goals
under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

This bill would direct the state's Bridge Authorities and the Thruway
Authority to focus on improving pedestrian and bicyclist access on New
York State's bridges. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was
directed by legislation in 2021 to undertake _a similar effort for
bridges within its jurisdiction-this bill would extend the benefits of
increased pedestrian and bicyclist access to the entire state. This
legislation aligns with Federal Highway Administration guidelines that
require federally funded bridge projects to provide safe accommodation
of pedestrians and/or bicyclists.

By promoting walking and cycling over the state's bridges, this legis-
lation would benefit both the state's emissions reduction goals and New
Yorkers' quality of life.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Unknown.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S9313 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9313
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 10, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the public authorities law,  in  relation  to  requiring
   certain  public  authorities to develop a feasibility study to promote
   bicyclist and pedestrian access on bridges statewide and  to  consider
   the impact of capital projects on bicyclist and pedestrian access

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public authorities law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 543 to read as follows:
   §  543.  PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY.  1. THE AUTHORITY
 SHALL DEVELOP A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY  STUDY  TO  ANALYZE
 WAYS  TO  IMPROVE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON ROADWAY BRIDGES UNDER
 ITS JURISDICTION. SUCH STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) IDENTIFICATION OF BRIDGES WITHIN THE AUTHORITY'S JURISDICTION THAT
 ARE SUITABLE FOR SAFE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS;
   (B) POTENTIAL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT  WOULD  ALLOW  FOR  AND/OR  EXPAND
 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES; AND
   (C) A REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITY'S CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS IN EFFECT ON AND
 AFTER  JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT
 OF SUCH PROJECTS ON BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
 AND MODIFICATIONS TO SUCH CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS  THAT  WOULD  ALLOW  FOR
 AND/OR EXPAND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES.
   2. WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE AUTHORI-
 TY SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
 THE SENATE, AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, DETAILING THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
 ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. SUCH REPORT
 SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE.
   § 2. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 593
 to read as follows:
   §  593.  PEDESTRIAN  BRIDGE  FEASIBILITY STUDY. 1. THE AUTHORITY SHALL
 DEVELOP A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY TO ANALYZE WAYS  TO
 IMPROVE  BICYCLE  AND  PEDESTRIAN  ACCESS  ON  ROADWAY BRIDGES UNDER ITS
 JURISDICTION. SUCH STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD13603-04-4
 S. 9313                             2
 
   (A) IDENTIFICATION OF BRIDGES WITHIN THE AUTHORITY'S JURISDICTION THAT
 ARE SUITABLE FOR SAFE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS;
   (B)  POTENTIAL  CAPITAL  PROJECTS  THAT  WOULD ALLOW FOR AND/OR EXPAND
 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES; AND
   (C) A REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITY'S CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS IN EFFECT ON AND
 AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, TO DETERMINE THE  IMPACT
 OF SUCH PROJECTS ON BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
 AND  MODIFICATIONS  TO  SUCH  CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
 AND/OR EXPAND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES.
   2. WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE AUTHORI-
 TY SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
 THE SENATE, AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, DETAILING THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
 ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. SUCH REPORT
 SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE.
   § 3. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 669
 to read as follows:
   § 669. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY.  1.  THE  AUTHORITY
 SHALL  DEVELOP  A  PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY TO ANALYZE
 WAYS TO IMPROVE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON ROADWAY  BRIDGES  UNDER
 ITS JURISDICTION. SUCH STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) IDENTIFICATION OF BRIDGES WITHIN THE AUTHORITY'S JURISDICTION THAT
 ARE SUITABLE FOR SAFE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS;
   (B)  POTENTIAL  CAPITAL  PROJECTS  THAT  WOULD ALLOW FOR AND/OR EXPAND
 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES; AND
   (C) A REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITY'S CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS IN EFFECT ON AND
 AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, TO DETERMINE THE  IMPACT
 OF SUCH PROJECTS ON BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
 AND  MODIFICATIONS  TO  SUCH  CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
 AND/OR EXPAND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES.
   2. WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE AUTHORI-
 TY SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
 THE SENATE, AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, DETAILING THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
 ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. SUCH REPORT
 SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE.
   § 4. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 718
 to read as follows:
   § 718. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE FEASIBILITY STUDY.  1.  THE  AUTHORITY  SHALL
 DEVELOP  A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY TO IMPROVE BICYCLE
 AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON ROADWAY BRIDGES UNDER  ITS  JURISDICTION.  SUCH
 PLAN SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) IDENTIFICATION OF BRIDGES WITHIN THE AUTHORITY'S JURISDICTION THAT
 ARE SUITABLE FOR SAFE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS;
   (B)  POTENTIAL  CAPITAL  PROJECTS  THAT  WOULD ALLOW FOR AND/OR EXPAND
 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES; AND
   (C) A REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITY'S CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS IN EFFECT ON AND
 AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, TO DETERMINE THE  IMPACT
 OF SUCH PROJECTS ON BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
 AND  MODIFICATIONS  TO  SUCH  CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
 AND/OR EXPAND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES.
   2. WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE AUTHORI-
 TY SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
 THE SENATE, AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, DETAILING THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
 ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. SUCH REPORT
 SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE.
   § 5. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 390
 to read as follows:
 S. 9313                             3

   § 390. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY.  1.  THE  AUTHORITY
 SHALL  DEVELOP  A  PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY TO IMPROVE
 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON ROADWAY BRIDGES UNDER ITS JURISDICTION.
 SUCH PLAN SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) IDENTIFICATION OF BRIDGES WITHIN THE AUTHORITY'S JURISDICTION THAT
 ARE SUITABLE FOR SAFE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS;
   (B)  POTENTIAL  CAPITAL  PROJECTS  THAT  WOULD ALLOW FOR AND/OR EXPAND
 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES; AND
   (C) A REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITY'S CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS IN EFFECT ON AND
 AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, TO DETERMINE THE  IMPACT
 OF SUCH PROJECTS ON BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
 AND  MODIFICATIONS  TO  SUCH  CAPITAL PROGRAM PLANS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
 AND/OR EXPAND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ON BRIDGES.
   2. WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE AUTHORI-
 TY SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
 THE SENATE, AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, DETAILING THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
 ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. SUCH REPORT
 SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE.
   § 6.  This act shall take effect immediately.

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