Requires the department of transportation to determine which entrances to parkways in the state are most frequently accessed by oversized commercial vehicles and to install certain barriers to prevent such vehicles from accessing such entrances.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7498
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act to require the department of transportation to determine which
entrances to parkways in the state are most frequently accessed by over-
sized commercial vehicles and to install certain barriers to prevent
such vehicles from accessing such entrances
PURPOSE:
To authorize the department of transportation (DOT) to determine which
parkways frequently have accidents due to commercial vehicles entering
and authorize DOT to install physical barriers to prevent these vehicles
from entering parkways based on its findings.
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Directs the department of transportation to conduct a study.
Section 2. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The dangers and damages caused by trucks entering parkways have plagued
our state for years. Even when there is no physical damage, a truck's
travel on parkways creates traffic congestion and a safety hazard to
other motorists on a road designed for passenger vehicles.
Parkways do not allow oversized vehicles for good reason - typically,
bridges on parkways cannot accommodate the height of these vehicles.
When an oversized vehicle enters a parkway, it is sometimes involved in
a crash with a low hanging bridge. These accidents cause damage not only
to the vehicle but can damage bridges, cause delays for commuters, and
use emergency services. Furthermore, these accidents can result in phys-
ical injury or even loss of life to drivers and passengers.
While the DOT has taken measures, including signage, to reduce the inci-
dence of commercial vehicles on parkways the problem still remains. The
installation of physical barriers proposed by this legislation would
effectively notify truck drivers that their vehicles are too tall to
travel safely on these state parkways and reduce accidents and hazards
to motorists.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7498
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 25, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to require the department of transportation to determine which
entrances to parkways in the state are most frequently accessed by
oversized commercial vehicles and to install certain barriers to
prevent such vehicles from accessing such entrances
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. 1. The New York state department of transportation is here-
2 by authorized and directed, within one hundred twenty days of the enact-
3 ment of this act, to study and determine which entrances to parkways in
4 the state are most frequently accessed by commercial motor vehicles and,
5 within one year of making such determination, to install physical barri-
6 ers to prevent or otherwise hinder such commercial motor vehicles from
7 accessing such parkway entrances.
8 2. The commissioner of transportation may request, and is authorized
9 to receive, from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or
10 other agency of the state or any state public authority such information
11 and data as will enable the department of transportation to properly
12 conduct its study and make its determination. Such information and data
13 received by the department of transportation shall be subject to the
14 same requirements for confidentiality and limitations on use, if any, as
15 are applicable to the use of such information and data by the depart-
16 ment, division, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the state
17 or state public authority which provided such information and data.
18 3. For the purposes of this act "commercial motor vehicle" shall have
19 the same meaning as such term is defined in subdivision 4 of section
20 501-a of the vehicle and traffic law, provided that such vehicle is also
21 of a height that exceeds the clearance of bridges located on such
22 special parkways.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09228-01-3
