NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8624
SPONSOR: Barrett TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to requiring the consider-
ation of complete street design for certain transportation projects
which receive federal or state funding
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would expand the state's current complete street design prin-
ciples policy to include all state, county and local transportation
projects that are undertaken by the New York State Department of Trans-
portation (DOT) or receive federal, state or both federal and state
funding.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
§ 1-Amends subdivision (a) of § 331 of the Highway Law to expand the
state's current complete street design principles policy to include all
state, county and local transportation projects that are undertaken by
the DOT or receive federal, state or both federal and state funding.
§ 2-Effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 398 of the Laws of 2011 established in New York State Law, a
complete street design policy that was intended to provide for a safe
and cost-effective way to facilitate access and improve mobility for
pedestrians, cyclists, mass transportation riders and motorists. The
current law, however, hampers the policy's application due to language
that only requires the complete street design principles on transporta-
tion projects undertaken by the DOT or that receive both federal and
state funding, therefore limiting the number of projects that would fall
under the policy.
Instead of being all encompassing and providing for wide-spread usage at
all levels of transportation projects, truly impacting pedestrians,
cyclists, mass transportation riders and furthering the state's commit-
ment to climate leadership actions, its limited scope has allowed for
transportation projects not receiving both federal and state funding to
be undertaken and completed without this holistic planning and
construction approach. This has caused many communities who would have
likely included non-motorized transportation options, such as walking or
bicycling, out of the planning and construction of their transportation
projects.
This legislation will expand the state's current complete street design
principles policy to include all state, county and local transportation
projects that are undertaken by the DOT or receive federal, state or
both federal and state funding. Ultimately, the policy would require the
consideration of the needs of all users of our roads, encourage plan-
ning, design, construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation to benefit
a variety of citizens, encourage sustainable communities and thus,
improve air quality, decrease traffic congestion and preserve our
natural assets. Not only will this measure make our communities safer
for pedestrians, cyclists and those using non-motorized modes of trans-
portation, it will assist New York State in meeting our Climate Leader-
ship goals and positively impact our environment.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
