Requires the DOT to determine which entrances to parkways in Westchester county 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: A8008
SPONSOR: Abinanti TITLE OF BILL: An act to require the department of transportation to
determine which entrances to parkways in the county of Westchester are
most frequently accessed by oversized commercial vehicles and to install
certain barriers to prevent such vehicles from accessing such entrances
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To prevent oversized commercial vehicles from entering Westchester Coun-
ty parkways.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill authorizes and directs the department of transpor-
tation, within one hundred twenty days, to study and determine which
entrances to special parkways in Westchester County are used most
frequently by commercial motor vehicles and, within one year of making
such determination, to install physical barriers to prevent or otherwise
hinder such commercial vehicles from accessing such parkways.
Section 2 authorizes the commissioner of the department of transporta-
tion to request and receive, from any department, division, board,
bureau, commission or other agency of the state or any state public
authority such information and data as will enable the department of
transportation to properly conduct its study and make its determination.
Section 3 defines commercial motor vehicle and special parkways for
purposes of this act.
Section 4 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Westchester County police statistics show that commercial trucks
wandered onto Westchester passenger-vehicle only parkways some 700-850
times a year for the last several years.
The dangers and damages caused by trucks entering parkways have plagued
Westchester County and the State for many years. Even where this is no
physical damage, a truck's travel on parkways creates traffic chaos and
a safety hazard to other motorists on a road designed for passenger
vehicles.
The Village of Rye Brook police statistics show that during a one-year
period there were 13 reports of commercial vehicles either hitting the
King Street overpass or traveling on the Hutchinson River Parkway.
While the Department of Transportation has taken some measures to reduce
the incidence of commercial vehicles on parkways the problem still
remains. The installation of physical barriers proposed by this legis-
lation would reduce accidents and hazards to motorists by preventing
oversized commercial vehicles from entering Westchester County parkways
at the entrances most frequently accessed by these vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2013/2014: A816 referred to transportation;
2016: A654-A/S5774-A passed Legislature; vetoed by Governor, veto memo
225
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost will depend on the type and number of physical barriers deter-
mined to be needed by the commissioner of the department of transporta-
tion.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.
