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 plan 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.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8300
SPONSOR: Fahy TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
certain public authorities to develop a plan 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 plan
to promote bicyclist and pedestrian access on NYS bridges and to consid-
er the impact of capital projects on bicyclist and pedestrian access.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends the public authorities law to direct the NYS Bridge
Authority to develop a strategic action plan to improve bicycle and
pedestrian access to roadway bridges.
Section 2. Amends the public authorities law to direct the Thousand
Islands Bridge Authority to develop a strategic action plan 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 strategic action plan 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 strategic action plan 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 strategic action plan to improve bicycle 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 bridg-
es 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.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8300
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
November 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
certain public authorities to develop a plan 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:
1 Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new
2 section 543 to read as follows:
3 § 543. Pedestrian bridge access plan. 1. The authority shall develop a
4 strategic action plan to improve bicycle and pedestrian access on road-
5 way bridges under its jurisdiction. Such plan shall include but not be
6 limited to:
7 (a) developing and monitoring capital projects to allow for and/or
8 expand bicycle and pedestrian access on bridges; and
9 (b) reviewing the authority's capital program plans in effect on and
10 after January first, two thousand twenty-three, to determine the impact
11 of such projects on bicycle and pedestrian access and proposing any
12 amendments and modifications to such capital program plans that the
13 authority deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
14 2. Within one year of the effective date of this section, the authori-
15 ty shall submit a written report to the governor, temporary president of
16 the senate, and speaker of the assembly, detailing the strategic action
17 plan conducted pursuant to this section. Such report shall be made
18 available to the public on the authority's website.
19 § 2. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 593
20 to read as follows:
21 § 593. Pedestrian bridge access plan. 1. The authority shall develop a
22 strategic action plan to improve bicycle and pedestrian access on road-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13603-02-3
A. 8300 2
1 way bridges under its jurisdiction. Such plan shall include but not be
2 limited to:
3 (a) developing and monitoring capital projects to allow for and/or
4 expand bicycle and pedestrian access on bridges; and
5 (b) reviewing the authority's capital program plans in effect on and
6 after January first, two thousand twenty-three, to determine the impact
7 of such projects on bicycle and pedestrian access and proposing any
8 amendments and modifications to such capital program plans that the
9 authority deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
10 2. Within one year of the effective date of this section, the authori-
11 ty shall submit a written report to the governor, temporary president of
12 the senate, and speaker of the assembly, detailing the strategic action
13 plan conducted pursuant to this section. Such report shall be made
14 available to the public on the authority's website.
15 § 3. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 669
16 to read as follows:
17 § 669. Pedestrian bridge access plan. 1. The authority shall develop a
18 strategic action plan to improve bicycle and pedestrian access on road-
19 way bridges under its jurisdiction. Such plan shall include but not be
20 limited to:
21 (a) developing and monitoring capital projects to allow for and/or
22 expand bicycle and pedestrian access on bridges; and
23 (b) reviewing the authority's capital program plans in effect on and
24 after January first, two thousand twenty-three, to determine the impact
25 of such projects on bicycle and pedestrian access and proposing any
26 amendments and modifications to such capital program plans that the
27 authority deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
28 2. Within one year of the effective date of this section, the authori-
29 ty shall submit a written report to the governor, temporary president of
30 the senate, and speaker of the assembly, detailing the strategic action
31 plan conducted pursuant to this section. Such report shall be made
32 available to the public on the authority's website.
33 § 4. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 718
34 to read as follows:
35 § 718. Pedestrian bridge access plan. 1. The authority shall develop a
36 strategic action plan to improve bicycle and pedestrian access on road-
37 way bridges under its jurisdiction. Such plan shall include but not be
38 limited to:
39 (a) developing and monitoring capital projects to allow for and/or
40 expand bicycle and pedestrian access on bridges; and
41 (b) reviewing the authority's capital program plans in effect on and
42 after January first, two thousand twenty-three, to determine the impact
43 of such projects on bicycle and pedestrian access and proposing any
44 amendments and modifications to such capital program plans that the
45 authority deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
46 2. Within one year of the effective date of this section, the authori-
47 ty shall submit a written report to the governor, temporary president of
48 the senate, and speaker of the assembly, detailing the strategic action
49 plan conducted pursuant to this section. Such report shall be made
50 available to the public on the authority's website.
51 § 5. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 390
52 to read as follows:
53 § 390. Pedestrian bridge access plan. 1. The authority shall develop a
54 strategic action plan to improve bicycle and pedestrian access on road-
55 way bridges under its jurisdiction. Such plan shall include but not be
56 limited to:
A. 8300 3
1 (a) developing and monitoring capital projects to allow for and/or
2 expand bicycle and pedestrian access on bridges; and
3 (b) reviewing the authority's capital program plans in effect on and
4 after January first, two thousand twenty-three, to determine the impact
5 of such projects on bicycle and pedestrian access and proposing any
6 amendments and modifications to such capital program plans that the
7 authority deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
8 2. Within one year of the effective date of this section, the authori-
9 ty shall submit a written report to the governor, temporary president of
10 the senate, and speaker of the assembly, detailing the strategic action
11 plan conducted pursuant to this section. Such report shall be made
12 available to the public on the authority's website.
13 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
