BILL NUMBER: S7969

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to establishing the
hyperloop and high speed rail commission

 
PURPOSE:

To establish an exploratory state commission that will study and develop
a Hyperloop and High Speed Rail within New York State. A comprehensive
plan which will propose progressive measures for a Hyperloop and High
Speed Rail within New York State; and provides for the appointment of a
special commission that will thoroughly consider the benefits and impli-
cations of implementing such a rail system.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Provides for establishment of an exploratory commission and
designated members
              

490. The commission shall consist of the president of the Metro-North
Railroad and eleven other members to be appointed as follows: three
shall be appointed by the governor; two shall be appointed by the major-
ity leader of the senate and two by the minority leader of the senate;
and two shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly and two by the
minority leader of the assembly.

491. This bill would authorize the establishment of a commission tasked
with exploring a Hyperloop and high speed rail within New York State,
including the preparation of studies which include both the benefits and
impacts of building and investing in a Hyperloop and high speed rail.
They will advise the Department of Transportation on future improvements
to the state's rail systems, making recommendations on how to build,
maintain, and finance a Hyperloop and high speed rail system. The
commission will advise and work with the department on any additional
funding that may be helpful in developing a Hyperloop and high speed
rail.

492. The commission members shall be appointed within 30 days after the
effective date of the article and report its findings to the Governor
and the Legislature no later than two years after the effective date.
This commission shall meet publicly on a quarterly basis to receive
public input and discuss community concerns. The commission will also
issue requests for information from companies around the world that
operate high speed rails or have worked on developing a Hyperloop,
including, but not limited to, companies in Japan, China, South Korea
and Germany, and to collect and present a comprehensive outline of
potential companies that could operate a Hyperloop and high speed rail
system in the United States.

Upon the transmission of the report to the governor and the legislature,
the commissioner of transportation shall within thirty days report to
the governor whether the commission shall continue in operation, or
whether it shall be changed in some manner.



493. The commission may request and shall receive data from any depart-
ment, division, board, or bureau to enable the commission to properly
carry out its powers and duties as described.

Section 2. The bill shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The development of High Speed Rail, Hyperloops, and other forms of rapid
transit has been a widely discussed topic at state and federal levels of
government for decades, but legislative progress in this field has been
inconsistent. High-speed transportation has been developed at greater
stages with success in various technologically modernized or developing
countries such as Germany, China, Spain, Japan, France, etc. that have
realized the economic and public infrastructure benefits of such forms
of rapid transit. By contrast, the development of rapid transit in New
York has stalled over the past two decades. A High Speed Rail network
had been at the top of former President Barack Obama's and former Gover-
nors Mario Cuomo, George Pataki, and David Paterson's platforms, but no
clear progress has been forthcoming.

High Speed Transit has always been viewed as the future of transporta-
tion and an answer to America's deteriorating rail system, but obstacles
such as its anticipated cost and posited adverse effects have often
slowed its development. Building modernized high speed rail has the
potential to address many of New York State's transportation and econom-
ic shortcomings with minimal impact on the environment.

This bill would create a commission to explore modernizing multimodal
transportation within New York State and champion Hyperloop and High
Speed Rail development efforts within the United States. It will examine
potential transportation routes such as from New York City to Albany,
and Albany to the Niagara Falls region, in record time, boosting econom-
ic growth and tourism throughout the state. The current high speed rail
plan alternatives range from 79 mph to 125 mph, paling in comparison to
high speed rail in the 150-200 mph range that exists in other countries
like Japan. The current New York State Department of Transportation has
been working on a High Speed Rail plan and collecting Environmental
Impact Statements over time, but has limited the maximum speed of any
High Speed Rail plan in New York State to under 160 mph.

This bill would allow New York legislators to try to resolve the issues
of funding, through viable partnerships, for a Hyperloop and high speed
rail in New York State. It enables lawmakers to find feasible answers
for achieving a functioning rapid transit system like those of other
modernized countries around the world.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that effec-
tive immediately, the addition, amendment, or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.