BILL NUMBER:A496

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public authorities law and the high-
way  law,  in  relation  to removing the Niagara section of the New York
state thruway from the control of the thruway authority and  to  putting
the  Niagara  section of the New York state thruway under the control of
the department of transportation; and to repeal  certain  provisions  of
the public authorities law and the highway law relating thereto

PURPOSE:
To transfer control over the Niagara section of the New York state thru-
way from control of the thruway authority to the department of transpor-
tation  so that any future improvement of this section shall be eligible
for federal aid.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 356 of the public authorities law is
repealed and subdivision 9 is renumbered subdivision 8.

Section 2: Subdivision 4 of section 356-a of the public authorities  law
is  repealed  and  subdivision  5  is amended to renumber the referenced
section.

Section 3: Subdivision 6 of the section 349-a  of  the  highway  law  is
repealed  and  subdivisions 7, 8, and 9 are renumbered subdivision 6, 7,
and 8.
              

Section 4: Amends the  highway  law  by  adding  a  new  section  341-b.
Acceptance  of a bridge and highway as part of the state highway system.
The state will accept a certain bridge and highway starting at the junc-
tion of the Erie and Ontario sections of the thruway at a point  in  the
vicinity  of  the crossing of Dingens Street and the Lehigh Valley rail-
road in the town of Cheektowaga, generally in a  westerly  direction  to
Erie street in the city of Buffalo, continuing in a general northwester-
ly  direction  to the front, through the front and north between Niagara
Street and the ship canal to the right of  way  of  the  abandoned  Erie
Canal  near  the  northern  end of such ship canal, then generally along
such right of way, deviating therefrom to make a connection with easter-
ly approach of the South Grand Island bridge, across the Niagara  river,
utilizing  the  existing  South  Grand  Island  bridge,  then across the
Niagara river, utilizing the  existing  South  Grand  Island,  along  or
parallel  to  existing Grand Island boulevard, across the Niagara river,
utilizing the existing North Grand Island bridge  and  such  bridge  and
highway  shall  be  part hereafter be part of such system and subject to
supervision and control  of  the  commissioner  of  transportation.  The
department of transportation shall maintain, repair or reconstruct sole-
ly  at  the expense of the state. This portion of highway shall be under
the jurisdiction  of  the  commissioner  of  transportation  and  future
improvement  shall be eligible for federal aid in the same manner as any
other state highway or bridge.

Subdivision 5: Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
It  is  estimated  that  the  Grand Island bridge costs between $8 to $9
million dollars per year in operation and maintenance cost, however  the
revenue  figures  from 2006, show that over $22 million was collected in
tolls that year alone. Even with this  large  differential  between  the
costs  of  the  bridge  and  the  monies  collected there has been a one
hundred percent increase in toll rates over the past two  and  one  half
years.  This  increase is unnecessary and puts persons who live and work
on Grand Island at a  financial  disadvantage.  Residents  and  frequent
commuters  do  have  a reduced toll rate, however, this is the only road
onto and off of the island.  By  Transferring  the  bridge  and  Niagara
section of the thruway to the department of transportation not only will
the  tolls  be removed, but the bridge will be made eligible for federal
aid.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
06/12/08 A10003 reported to ways and means

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred  twentieth  day  after  it
shall have become law; provided, however, that effective immediately, in
addition,  amendment  and  or/repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
and directed to be made and completed on or before such date.