BILL NUMBER: S5686

SPONSOR: LANZA
 
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-k, directs the Metropolitan Transpor-
tation 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 popu-
lation 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 conven-
ience 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.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: S.412 - Referred to Corporations/ A.4917 - Referred to Corpo-
rations

2019: 5.412 - Print Number 412A/ A.4917 - Referred to Corporations

2018: S.3308 -A- Passed Senate / A.3856-A - Referred to Corporations

2017: S.3308 - Passed Senate / A.3586 - Referred to Corporations

2016: S.2337 - Passed Senate / A.3494 - Referred to Corporations

2015: S.2337 - Passed Senate / A.3494 - Referred to Corporations

2014: S.2304 - B- Passed Senate / A.4407-B - Referred to Corporations

2013: S.2304-Referred to Transportation / A.4407- Referred to Corpo-
rations

2012: S.7156- Referred to Transportation/ A.10435- Referred to Corpo-
rations

2010: S.509-Referred to Transportation / A.2615 -Referred to Corpo-
rations

2009: S.509-Referred to Transportation / A.2615 -Referred to Corpo-
rations

2008: S.3038- Referred to Transportation/ A.2415 - Referred to Corpo-
rations

2007: S.3038- Referred to Transportation/ A.2415 - Referred to Corpo-
rations

2006: S.1842- Referred to Transportation/ A.3535 - Referred to Corpo-
rations

2005: 5.1842- Referred to Transportation/ A.3535 - Referred to Corpo-
rations

2004: 5.7542- Referred to Transportation/ A.11626- Referred to Corpo-
rations

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.