S4954-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
• May 2, 2011: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

S4954-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S4954

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring public
notice and hearing prior to any planned substantial change in service of
the Rochester-Genesee regional transportation authority

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow for public comment, and
adequate notice thereof, prior to the implementation of proposed
changes in service; and to encourage public input by passengers
affected in the specific areas by holding hearings and providing
notice in the areas where proposed service changes take place.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 defines substantial change
in service as any change in frequency of service or change in route,
or complete or partial closing of a passenger stop or route.

Subdivision 2 part (a) requires that the RGRTA shall
hold a public hearing
or hearings in the affected areas at least thirty days prior to
implementing any substantial change in service.

Subdivision 2 part (b) requires a public hearing or
hearings to be held at
least thirty days prior to a substantial change, and that the RGRTA
is required to give at least thirty days notice prior to the hearing
to elected officials or equivalent in areas affected with detailed
information of the proposed changes. The meeting shall also be held
at locations in areas affected by the changes. This part also
requires posters not smaller than eleven by seventeen inches to be
displayed on buses and at bus stops operating on the affected route
at least thirty days prior to the public hearing or hearings with
date, location and time, details of the changes in service, and
information on the public's right to speak at the hearing. Part (c)
requires the public hearing notices to be placed at the Central
Library of Rochester and Monroe County, as well as in any public
library in any town or along any route affected by the proposed
change, as well as in any town or city hall and any post offices
located in the towns or zip codes affected by the proposed change.
Part (d) states that all notices in this section shall be in addition
to any other notices required by law.

JUSTIFICATION:
The RGRTA serves as the main method of transportation
for a significant number of Rochester area residents. A substantial
change in service imposes a burden on passengers that depend on this
service to get through their every-day lives.

Because the RGRTA provides a public service, the public has a right to
express their input on any bus service change that may affect them.
In order for the public to voice their opinion effectively, they must
be provided with detailed information on the substantial change
within a timely manner and provided with a forum to express their


concerns within enough time to have an impact on any decisions made
regarding substantial changes in service.

Current regulations require only minimal effort by authorities to
inform the public about changes in services and of their right to
speak at upcoming hearings. This legislation provides new
requirements that are necessary in order to protect the public's
interest in having a voice in their transportation options.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.6765-A of 2007-08: Passed Assembly;
A.2026 of 2009: Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after
it shall have become a law.

S4954-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         4954
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 May 2, 2011
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  ALESI  -- 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
 public  notice  and hearing prior to any planned substantial change in
 service of the Rochester-Genesee regional transportation authority
 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 1299-hhh to read as follows:

 

S 1299-HHH. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND NOTICE. 1.  FOR THE PURPOSES  OF  THIS
 SECTION,  THE TERM SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN SERVICE SHALL BE DEFINED AS ANY
 CHANGE IN FREQUENCY OF SERVICE  OR  CHANGE  IN  ROUTE,  OR  COMPLETE  OR
 PARTIAL CLOSING OF A PASSENGER STOP OR ROUTE.
 2. (A) A PUBLIC HEARING OR HEARINGS SHALL BE HELD AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS
 PRIOR  TO  ANY  SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE AT ONE OR MORE LOCATIONS CONVENIENTLY
 ACCESSIBLE TO THE PERSONS WHO  WOULD  BE  AFFECTED  BY  SUCH  CHANGE  IN
 SERVICE.
 (B)  AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING OR HEARINGS, THE
 AUTHORITY SHALL GIVE NOTICE TO THE ELECTED TOWN BOARD MEMBERS OR  EQUIV
 ALENT  IN  AREAS  AFFECTED  BY  ROUTE CHANGES AND SHALL PROVIDE DETAILED
 INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGES. IN ADDITION, THE  AUTHORITY
 SHALL DISPLAY POSTERS IN A FORM NOT SMALLER THAN ELEVEN INCHES BY SEVEN
 TEEN INCHES ON BUSES AND AT BUS STOPS OPERATING ON THE AFFECTED ROUTE AT
 LEAST  THIRTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING OR HEARINGS. SUCH POSTERS
 SHALL DESCRIBE THE PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGE IN DETAIL AND  SHALL  PROVIDE
 THE  DATE, TIME AND LOCATION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING OR HEARINGS AND SHALL
 STATE THAT THE PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGE SHALL BE OPEN TO  DISCUSSION  AND
 THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING.
 (C) PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES SHALL ALSO BE PLACED AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
 OF  ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY, AS WELL AS IN ANY PUBLIC LIBRARY IN ANY
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04751-02-1
 
       S. 4954                             2
 TOWN OR ON ANY ROUTE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE, AND IN  THE  TOWN  OR  CITY
 HALL OF THE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE.
 (D)  ALL  NOTICES  IN  THIS  SECTION SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER
 NOTICES REQUIRED BY LAW.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

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