Increases state funding for construction and improvements by the department of transportation where the municipality agrees to fund a complete street design feature as a component of the project.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8936A
SPONSOR: Fahy TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to complete street design
features and funding of construction and improvements at a munici-
palities' expense
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To amend the highway law, in relation to complete street design features
and funding of construction and improvements at municipalities' expense.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds language to section 80-b of the highway law to change the
percentage responsibility of the State for federally assisted projects.
The State would be.responsible for eighty-two and one-half percent of
total project costs if a municipality agrees to incorporate complete
street design features, as defined in section three-hundred thirty-one
of chapter fifty-seven of the highway law, at such a municipalities' own
expense. This would reduce a municipalities' percentage responsibility
from five percent to two and one-half percent of the total project cost.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Current federal regulations requiring complete streets features on new
transportation projects largely exempt most highway projects in New
York, because reviews for the incorporation of complete streets features
(such as pedestrian crosswalks, sidewalks, and bike lanes) are only
required for certain large, intensive new construction projects. Since
New York and many states in the Northeast already have a built-out
network of highways and roads, complete street reviews are conducted
only in limited circumstances. This bill aims to remedy this problem,
which has stymied the walkability and bike-friendliness of communities
in upstate New York and on Long Island, by creating an incentive for
municipalities to construct these features, which can sometimes be
prohibitively expensive. By reducing the project cost responsibility of
municipalities which agree to incorporate complete street features to
half of its current level, incorporating these features will become
significantly more accessible to communities around New-York to the
benefit of the elderly, disabled, and small businesses that benefit from
greater foot traffic.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A6454 of 2019-20
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
