BILL NUMBER:  S3443

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to financing
the design, acquisition, construction, improvement and installation of
East River Esplanade

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

To ensure that the funding needs for the East River Esplanade are
identified.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

This bill would amendadd § 1285-s to the Public Authorities Law.

 JUSTIFICATION :

In the current era of waterfront revitalization, the section of the
East River Esplanade which abuts East Harlem has been consistently
ignored. The walking and biking path is in disrepair, with sections of
the thin patch crumbling into the river below. Holes in the path have
been boarded over with plywood, fencing has decayed, and many of the
benches have been rendered unusable. The other assets of the
waterfront have suffered from a similar fate. The pier at 107th Street
              

has been fenced off after the roof collapsed, and has been declared
structurally unsafe. Pilings are all that remain of a former pier at
117th Street. In addition, accessibility to the East River Esplanade
is very limited, which is largely due to its proximity to the FDR
Drive. There are only three points between 96th Street and 125th
Street that allow for pedestrian traffic to cross the FDR Drive. There
are three pedestrian bridges that pass over the FDR drive and connect
to the Esplanade. These access points are not well-marked, and without
previously knowing they exist or looking at an overhead map, it is
difficult to identify entrances, which likely discourages many people
from using the Esplanade. Despite being in such close proximity to a
major roadway, and an important river, the East River Esplanade is
isolated from all other forms of transportation and paths. There is no
point at which a person could quickly and relatively directly access
the park from a car or a boat. Additionally the existing pedestrian
bridges are in poor condition, and the entrances are tucked away out
of site. This bill is intended to highlight the need for funding for
the East River Esplanade, especially in light of the siting of the
East 91st Street Marine Transfer Station, and would authorize the
Environmental Facilities Corporation to provide funding.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-2016: S.5985 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities, and
Commissions

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.