Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver introduced legislation today to create a first-ever permit system for intercity buses that pick up and drop off passengers. The system would address the often chaotic situation in Chinatown and elsewhere in Lower Manhattan, where buses load and unload at various points along crowded streets, creating congestion, pollution and inefficiency.

The permit system is intended to improve the health, safety and welfare of the public and neighborhood residents-addressing challenges that have arisen with the rapid expansion of the affordable bus industry in the last 15 years.

"For too long, the streets of Lower Manhattan, and particularly Chinatown, have been overrun by private, intercity buses that have no clear rules for where and how they are allowed to operate," Speaker Silver said. "Because of a lack of adequate regulation of this industry, we have had to contend with traffic congestion, pollution caused by idling buses and dangerous conditions for pedestrians. Today, we are introducing legislation that will bring order to that chaos by allowing the city to regulate this industry in a way that will improve the quality of life for our community and make our streets and sidewalks safer."

The proposed legislation would authorize New York City to pass a local law to regulate intercity passenger buses through a permit system, which would include assigning pick-up/drop-off locations, providing for community board and MTA input and regulating enforcement. Permits could be issued for up to three years, and holders would pay the city an annual fee.

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The proposal would authorize New York City to pass a local law to regulate intercity passenger bus service through a permit system. The system would:

• Prohibit intercity buses from picking up and dropping off passengers on city streets except at approved pick-up and drop off locations

• Assign a city agency to implement and enforce the permitting system

• Establish a community board review process for issuing permits and designating locations/relocations for bus pick-up and drop-off

• Require consultation with the MTA in designating locations/relocations for bus pick-up and drop-off and issuance of permits

• Provide public notice of all permit applications within five days of submission

• Require applicants to obtain five thousand dollar surety bonds

• Mandate agency review, and approval or denial, within ninety days of submission of application

• Require the display of permits in buses

• Exempt school buses, sight-seeing buses, transportation authority buses, municipal buses and others

• Authorize a maximum $275 annual fee to be credited to the city as well as civil penalties for violations

• Prohibit the adoption of any system until there has been a public hearing