BILL NUMBER: S4772

SPONSOR: SERRANO
 
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 iden-
tified.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This bill would amended § 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 board-
ed 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 rela-
tively 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 Commis-
sions
2017-2018: S3443 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities, and Commis-
sions

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.