NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A774
SPONSOR: Dinowitz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to allowing two
automatic free transfers for riders using pay-per-ride Metrocards
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To ensure that riders of the MTA mass-transit system do not incur extra
costs due to recent cuts in service.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill adds subdivision 3-b to § 1266 public authori-
ties law to establish a "two free transfers policy," provided the Metro-
politan Transit Authority not pay any costs related to the policy from
its operating or capital budgets and may only implement the policy with
funds appropriated by the state. The two free transfers policy would
require two automatic free transfers be applied to each paid fare or
rate and remain valid for two hours from the time the fare is purchased,
between the buses that are owned and operated by the authority. This
subdivision also allows the transfer policy to be amended from time to
time.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, upon purchasing a pay-per-ride MetroCard, the rider is
allowed one automatic free transfer per fare. Unfortunately, due to
recent cutbacks in services and the outright elimination of various bus
and subway lines, some riders now must purchase two fares to make their
daily commute. Essentially the MTA has imposed new fares on riders who
have enough trouble paying for one fare. The burden shouldn't be passed,
on to riders in these affected areas. This bill would ensure, contingent
upon funds appropriated by the state, that no commuter or rider suffers
due to cutbacks in service that already add time and stress to a
commute.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: A.1283 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions /
S.2745 - Referred to Transportation
2021: A.1283 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions /
S.2745 - Reported to Finance
2019-20: A.2481-A - Referred to Ways and Means / S.2779-A - Passed
Senate
2018: A.9627 - Veto Memo No. 363 of 2018 / S.7862 - Veto Memo No. 363 of
2018
2017: A.3439 - Veto Memo No. 249 of 2017 / S.2560 - Veto Memo No. 249 of
2017
2015: A.2607 - Veto Memo No. 254 of 2015 / S.3228 - Veto Memo No. 254 of
2015
2013-14: A.367-A - Reported to Ways and Means / S.2092-A - Passed Senate
2011-12 - A.4855 - Reported to Ways and Means / S.3839 - Referred to
Transportation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
774
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, DE LOS SANTOS -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to allowing two
automatic free transfers for riders using pay-per-ride Metrocards
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 3-b to read as follows:
3 3-b. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authority shall
4 establish a "two free transfers policy", provided, however, the authori-
5 ty shall not pay any costs or expenses related to the two free transfers
6 policy from its operating or capital budgets and may only implement the
7 two free transfers policy with funds appropriated to it by the state of
8 New York for such purpose. The two free transfers policy may be amended
9 from time to time. Such policy shall provide any person who pays for a
10 single fare or rate with at least two automatic free transfers at no
11 additional cost between any subway and bus, or between buses that are
12 owned and operated by the authority. Such transfers shall be valid for
13 two hours from the time such fare or rate is collected by the authority
14 at a transit facility.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00597-01-3
