S1240-2013 Actions

• Apr 26, 2013: PRINT NUMBER 1240A
• Apr 26, 2013: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION
• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

S1240-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1240

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public authorities law, in relation to enacting the
metropolitan transportation authority rider's bill of rights

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require that the
Metropolitan Transit Authority provide the public with a consumer
bill of rights; this ensures that riders are provided with more
information and that their interests in utilizing the public
transport system are protected.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This bill amends the Public
Authorities Law by adding a new section, 1266-j, which implements the
Metropolitan Transit Authority Rider's Bill of Rights.

JUSTIFICATION:
While the services and limitations of the Metropolitan
Transit Authority have a large and significant effect on the
day-to-day lives of millions of New Yorkers, the public has
relatively little effect on MTA's decision making process. In
addition, the public has relatively little knowledge of their rights
as riders and while MTA has a method for submitting grievances, this
system needs to be modernized to ensure that riders have an effective
way of communicating with MTA to address areas of improvement. This
bill is a step in the right direction in ensuring that our vibrant
transit system remains reliable, safe, fast and clean.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011-12: S.5506 - Referred to Transportation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the
first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall
have become law.

S1240-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         1240
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 9, 2013
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. PERKINS -- 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 enacting  the
 metropolitan transportation authority rider's bill of rights
 

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 1266-j to read as follows:

 

S  1266-J.  METROPOLITAN  TRANSPORTATION  AUTHORITY  RIDER'S  BILL  OF
 RIGHTS.  ALL MEMBERS OF NEW YORK CITY'S TRANSIT RIDING PUBLIC  HAVE  THE
 RIGHT TO:

 1. RELIABLE, ON-TIME, AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT TRANSIT.
 2.  ACCESS  TO ACCURATE, REAL-TIME INFORMATION AND CLEAR ANNOUNCEMENTS
 ABOUT WHEN TRAINS AND BUSES WILL ARRIVE AND INFORMATION  CONCERNING  ANY
 SIGNIFICANT  SERVICE  DELAYS BEFORE SWIPING A METROCARD, OR UPON ARRIVAL
 AT A BUS STOP. IF A BUS, SUBWAY, OR COMMUTER RAIL  TRAIN  IS  MORE  THAN
 FIFTEEN MINUTES LATE, UPDATED SERVICE INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE
 VIA  INTERNET,  EMAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE TO SUBSCRIBERS, P.A. ANNOUNCEMENTS
 ON SUBWAY PLATFORMS, AND ELECTRONIC  MESSAGE  BOARDS  ON  COMMUTER  RAIL
 PLATFORMS.
 3. A MORE ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SYSTEM, WITH LEVEL BOARDING FOR BUSES AND
 WORKING ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS WITHIN ALL SUBWAY STATIONS.
 4.  SAFE AND WELL-LIT SUBWAY AND BUS FACILITIES, WITH MTA EMPLOYEES ON
 HAND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESPOND IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
 5.  CLEAN,  REGULARLY  MAINTAINED  MTA  FACILITIES  INCLUDING   SUBWAY
 STATIONS, SUBWAY CARS, BUSES AND BUS STOPS.
 6.  HELPFUL,  COURTEOUS  SERVICE  FROM STATION AGENTS, BUS DRIVERS AND
 OTHER MTA EMPLOYEES.
 7. TRANSPARENT AND EASILY-USED LINES OF COMMUNICATION  BETWEEN  RIDERS
 AND  THE  MTA  WITH  MECHANISMS  IN  PLACE TO ADDRESS RIDER CONCERNS AND
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD03078-01-3
 
       S. 1240                             2
 COMPLAINTS.  CONVENIENT AND PROMINENTLY LOCATED BUS, TRAIN, AND  STATION
 POSTERS  WILL  PROVIDE  THE  INFORMATION NEEDED TO REGISTER COMMENTS AND
 COMPLAINTS WHICH WILL BE RESPONDED TO BY TOP LEVEL MANAGEMENT.
 8.  FARE  HIKES  THAT ARE ONLY ENACTED AS A LAST RESORT WHEN ALL OTHER
 FUNDING OPTIONS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, AS WELL AS STABLE FUNDING  FOR  THE
 MTA FROM THE STATE AND CITY, IN GOOD ECONOMIC TIMES AND BAD.
 9.  OFFICIAL PRIORITIZATION OF THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVE
 MENT OF THE EXISTING TRAIN AND BUS NETWORK BEFORE ITS EXPANSION.
 10. A MINIMUM OF ONE TRANSIT WORKER AND ONE TRANSIT  RIDER  AS  VOTING
 MEMBERS OF THE MTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
 

S  2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

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