NY State Senate Bill 2025-S1467

Senate Bill S1467

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to establish standards for the closing of trails on the Empire state trail

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 10, 2025	referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation

2025-S1467 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks And Recreation
Law Section:: Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law
Laws Affected:: Add §3.27, Pks & Rec L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7807

2025-S1467 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to establish standards for the closing of segments of trails on the Empire state trail, and provide notice of such closings to the public.

2025-S1467 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1467

SPONSOR: SERRANO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to establishing standards for trail closures on the Empire
state trail

 
PURPOSE:

To direct the office of parks, recreation and historical preservation to
coordinate with an owner of a portions of the Empire State Trail that is
temporarily closed to establish a signed detour and to post notice on
the office's website.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the parks, recreation and historic preservation law by
adding a new section 3.27.

Section 3.27a. Establishes that the owner of a portion of the Empire

State Trail shall keep such trail open when practicable.

Section 3.27b. Requires OPRHP to coordinate with the owner of a portion
of the Empire State Trail that shall be closed to plan a detour route,
and to post appropriate signage.

Section 3.27c. Requires the commissioner to post the notice received
pursuant to section 2b on the office's website.

Section 3. Sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Empire State Trail, established in 2017, is the longest single-
state, multi-use trail in the nation. The trail is utilized by nearly 10
million people each year, including many bicycle tourists who travel to
New York specifically to experience the Empire State Trait. These tour-
ists patronize lodging, dining, and retail businesses along the trail.
Ensuring that the trail is reliable and safe benefits local businesses
and New Yorkers who rely on the trait for transportation and recreation.

At times, sections of the trail must be closed due to construction or
unsafe conditions. However, there is currently no requirement to estab-
lish a safe, marked alternate route to divert travelers around the
closed portion. The lack of a signed detour leaves travelers without
guidance on how to resume use of the trail, causing confusion and poten-
tial safety issues.

This legislation would require the establishment of a safe, marked
detour for travelers to utilize in the event of a trail closure. The
owner of the closed portion of the trail would be required to notify the
office of parks, recreation and historical preservation of the upcoming
closure. OPRHP shall, in collaboration with the owner, plan a detour
route, and post signage to direct trait users. The office must supply
the signage and post notice of the detour on its website for the conven-
ience of trait users. This would ensure that trait users can bypass

closed sections and reconnect with the trail as safely and efficiently
as possible.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-2024: S. 7807-A - Passed Senate. Passed Assembly. Delivered to
Governor. Vetoed Memo.103

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:ò

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 160 days after it shall have become a law.

2025-S1467 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1467
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
   Parks and Recreation
 
 AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law,  in
   relation  to  establishing  standards for trail closures on the Empire
   state trail

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  parks,  recreation  and historic preservation law is
 amended by adding a new section 3.27 to read as follows:
   § 3.27 EMPIRE STATE TRAIL. 1. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS
 SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A)  "EMPIRE  STATE  TRAIL" SHALL MEAN THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL NETWORK,
 INCLUDING THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY GREENWAY,  ERIE  CANALWAY  TRAIL,  AND
 CHAMPLAIN  VALLEY  TRAIL,  MARKED  WITH  SIGNAGE  AND  IDENTIFIED ON THE
 OFFICE'S WEBSITE, AS WELL AS ANY FUTURE CORRIDORS TO BE INCLUDED IN  THE
 EMPIRE STATE TRAIL NETWORK; AND
   (B)  "MULTI-USE  TRAIL"  SHALL  MEAN  A  TRAIL ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
 SECTION 11-0329 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW BY THE  DEPARTMENT
 OF  ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OR ESTABLISHED BY AN AFFILIATE OR SUBSID-
 IARY OF THE DEPARTMENT, OR A COUNTY, CITY,  TOWN,  VILLAGE,  OR  PRIVATE
 ENTITY FOR RECREATION AND TRANSPORTATION USE BY PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS,
 AND/OR OTHERS UTILIZING NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT.
   2.  TRAIL  CLOSURES.  (A)  THE  OWNER  OF ANY SEGMENT OF NON-MOTORIZED
 MULTI-USE TRAIL DESIGNATED AS A PORTION OF THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL  SHALL
 ENSURE  THAT SUCH SEGMENT OF TRAIL REMAINS OPEN WHEN PRACTICABLE FOR USE
 BY PEDESTRIANS, PERSONS OPERATING  A  BICYCLE,  SKATING  OR  GLIDING  ON
 IN-LINE  SKATES, OR OTHER TRAIL USERS AS ALLOWED BY STATE, LOCAL LAW, OR
 REGULATION.
   (B) IF ANY SEGMENT OF THE EMPIRE STATE TRAIL REQUIRES CLOSURE  DUE  TO
 CONSTRUCTION  OR TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04455-01-5

 S. 1467                             2
 
 OF THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LANDOWNER TO NOTIFY  THE  COMMISSIONER  OR  THE
 COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE OF SUCH CLOSURE. THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMIS-
 SIONER'S DESIGNEE SHALL, UPON RECEIVING NOTICE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
 COORDINATE WITH THE OWNER TO PLAN A DETOUR ROUTE AND TO PROMINENTLY POST
 SIGNAGE ALONG SUCH ROUTE FOR THE DURATION OF THE CLOSURE. THE DEPARTMENT
 SHALL PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY SIGNAGE.
   (C)  THE  COMMISSIONER  OR THEIR DESIGNEE SHALL, UPON RECEIVING NOTICE
 PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ENSURE SUCH TRAIL CLOSURE AND  PLANNED  DETOUR
 ROUTE IS POSTED ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.

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