BILL NUMBER:S7156

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the provision of
express bus service to the south shore of Staten Island

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide continued express bus
Service to the downtown and midtown business districts of Manhattan.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Adds a new Section 1266-i, which directs the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA) to fund and operate existing express
bus service routes servicing the South Shore of Staten Island within
the city of New York to the downtown and midtown business districts
of Manhattan.

JUSTIFICATION:
According to U.S. Census data released in early March 2000, Richmond
County (Staten Island) is ranked as the fastest growing county in New
York State. The South Shore of Staten Island, specifically the
communities of Tottenville, Richmond Valley, Prince's Bay, Pleasant
Plains, Charleston, Woodrow and Rossville, is the only area of its
size (in terms of population and geography) excluded from the MTA's
full range of publicly provided surface transit services to and from
              

Manhattan's down- town and midtown business districts.

The MTA operates 30 express bus routes in Staten Island, all north of
Huguenot Avenue. Residents there can find and utilize an express bus
route merely a couple of blocks from their residences. Yet, the MTA
does not provide adequate service south of Huguenot Avenue in the
South Shore area. Due to the lack of service, South Shore residents
who currently opt for bus service must either take MTA local service
to an MTA express stop and then transfer, or take private express
bus or charter bus service through New Jersey. The MTA needs to
establish express bus service throughout all of Staten Island to
address the transportation inequities in the South Shore and grant
its residents the same convenience afforded to the rest of the borough
and New York City. In 2000 legislation was passed by the Senate and
Assembly to add needed express bus service. This legislation was
vetoed by the Governor because an agreement was made through the MTA
to serve the residents of the South Shore with three express buses,
two of which are operated by a private bus company.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2010: S.509 - Referred to Transportation/A.2615   - Referred to
      Corporations
2009: S.509 - Referred to Transportation/A.2615   - Referred to
      Corporations
2008: S.3038 - Referred to Transportation/A.2415  - Referred to

      Corporations
2007: S.3038 - Referred to Transportation/A.2415  - Referred to
      Corporations
2006: S.1842 - Referred to Transportation/A.3535  - Referred to
      Corporations
2005: S.1842 - Referred to Transportation/A.3535  - Referred to
      Corporations
2004: S.7542 - Referred to Transportation/A.11626 - Referred to
      Corporations
2001: Veto #94

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.