BILL NUMBER:S2337

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-j, 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.

Section 2. Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

According to U.S. Census data released in 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
downtown and midtown business districts.

The MTA operates 31 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:

2014-2013: A.4407-B - Died in Corporations/S.2304-B - Passed the
Senate.
2012: S.7156 - Referred to Transportation/A.10435- Referred to
Corporations
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
Transportation
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 to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Immediately.