NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10789
SPONSOR: Silver (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, the environmental conserva-
tion law and the highway law, in relation to memorializing Robert F.
Kennedy by renaming the Triborough bridge as Robert F. Kennedy bridge
PURPOSE:
This bill acknowledges the great contribution of Robert F. Kennedy to
the State of New York and our nation by changing the name of the Tribor-
ough Bridge to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill recites the legislative findings and intent to
formally acknowledge the contributions made by Robert F. Kennedy.
Sections 2 through 12 of the bill amend the sections of law in which the
name "Triborough Bridge" appears in order to rename the bridge - which
constitutes a series of spans and associated structures that connect the
boroughs of Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx - as the "Robert F. Kennedy
Bridge."
Section 13 of the bill provides that occurrences of the name "Triborough
Bridge" in any laws, regulations, contracts or other documents shall be
deemed to be "Robert F. Kennedy Bridge," and that such laws, regu-
lations, contracts or other documents shall not be impaired by the
change of name caused by this bill. This section does not refer to the
Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, which maintains many New York
City facilities.
Section 14 of the bill addresses issues regarding the signage of the
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, and section 15 provides that the bill becomes
effective immediately.
EXISTING LAW:
Existing law designates the series of spans and associated structures
that connect the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx as the
"Triborough Bridge."
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT:
Robert F. Kennedy's family moved to New York shortly after his birth in
1925, and maintained a home in Bronxville, New York until 1942, where
Robert F. Kennedy attended Bronxville Public School for the third
through fifth grades. The State of New York and our entire nation were
enriched by Robert F. Kennedy's service as the sixty-fourth Attorney
General of the United States, and trusted advisor to the President. As a
member of the President's cabinet, Robert F. Kennedy was instrumental in
averting untold disaster during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Kennedy later represented the State of New York in the United States
Senate with great distinction, from 1965 until his untimely death in
1968, working tirelessly to improve the lives of New Yorkers, fighting
poverty and advancing the civil rights movement. Senator Kennedy's
contributions to New York include the formation of the Bedford-Stuyves-
ant Restoration Corporation in 1967, the oldest community development
corporation in the nation. Common throughout Kennedy's many works was an
effort to bridge gaps among persons of diverse racial, ethnic and
economic backgrounds. It would thus be appropriate to recognize Robert
F. Kennedy, a great New Yorker, in this fortieth year following his
tragic assassination, by renaming the Triborough Bridge as the Robert F.
Kennedy Bridge.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
This legislation will have minimal budgetary impact, owing to the cost
of signage.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill becomes effective upon enactment.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10789
IN ASSEMBLY
May 1, 2008
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SILVER, BRODSKY, GOTTFRIED -- Multi-Sponsored by
-- M. of A. CAHILL, CANESTRARI, CLARK, CYMBROWITZ, GIANARIS, HOYT,
LAVINE, NOLAN, SCARBOROUGH, TITONE -- (at request of the Governor) --
read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, the environmental conserva-
tion law and the highway law, in relation to memorializing Robert F.
Kennedy by renaming the Triborough bridge as Robert F. Kennedy bridge
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby
2 recognizes Robert F. Kennedy, in this fortieth year following his tragic
3 assassination, by naming after him the Triborough bridge, as a tribute
4 befitting his historic contribution to the State of New York and the
5 nation. Robert F. Kennedy represented the State of New York in the
6 United States Senate with great distinction, from 1965 until his untime-
7 ly death in 1968, working tirelessly to improve the lives of New York-
8 ers, fighting poverty and advancing the civil rights movement. The state
9 of New York and our entire nation were further enriched by Robert F.
10 Kennedy's prior service as the sixty-fourth Attorney General of the
11 United States, and trusted advisor to the President. Common throughout
12 his many works was an effort to bridge the gaps among persons of diverse
13 racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds. Accordingly, the legislature
14 hereby names the Triborough bridge - a complex of spans connecting three
15 boroughs of New York City, thereby bridging the gaps dividing diverse
16 populations - the Robert F. Kennedy bridge.
17 § 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 9 of section 553 of the public
18 authorities law, as amended by chapter 954 of the laws of 1946, is
19 amended to read as follows:
20 (a) a bridge heretofore constructed, known as [Triborough] Robert F.
21 Kennedy bridge, over the East river from the borough of Queens to the
22 boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, over and across Ward's island and
23 Randall's island in said river, together with such incidental bridges
24 and structures as shall be necessary or convenient in order to give
25 access from the bridge to both of said islands, together with approaches
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD12056-03-8
A. 10789 2
1 to said bridges (herein collectively referred to as the "[Triborough]
2 Robert F. Kennedy bridge project"); and
3 § 3. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 10 of section 553 of the
4 public authorities law, as amended by chapter 6 of the laws of 1940, are
5 amended to read as follows:
6 (a) in the case of the [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge project
7 and the Whitestone bridge project to pay to the city not exceeding thir-
8 ty-five per centum of the cost (including awards for damages and
9 expenses) of the acquisition of land for the widening of existing roads,
10 streets, parkways or avenues and for new roads, streets, parkways or
11 avenues, connecting with the approaches.
12 (b) to purchase from the persons, partnerships, associations or corpo-
13 rations who were the owners of any land acquired for the widening of
14 existing roads, streets, parkways or avenues or for new roads, streets,
15 parkways or avenues connecting with the approaches or of any interest in
16 such land at the date title to such land was vested in the city in any
17 proceeding heretofore or hereafter instituted for the acquisition there-
18 of by condemnation, or from their successors in interest or legal repre-
19 sentatives, their right, title, interest and/or claim in and to the
20 award or awards or any part thereof to be made in such proceeding after
21 the date of such purchase, and to take an assignment thereof to the
22 authority, provided, however, that in the case of the [Triborough]
23 Robert F. Kennedy bridge project and the Whitestone bridge project the
24 aggregate amount expended by the authority on account of all such
25 purchases together with the aggregate amount paid to the city in accord-
26 ance with [item] paragraph (a) of this subdivision [ten], shall not
27 exceed thirty-five per centum of the cost (including awards for damages
28 and expenses) of the acquisition of land for the widening of existing
29 roads, streets, parkways or avenues, and for new roads, streets, park-
30 ways or avenues, connecting with the approaches,
31 § 4. Subdivision 2 of section 563 of the public authorities law, as
32 amended by chapter 806 of the laws of 1955, is amended to read as
33 follows:
34 2. The state of New York does covenant and agree with the holders of
35 any bonds issued after January first, nineteen hundred forty that no
36 tunnel, bridge, parkway, causeway, street, road, highway or other
37 connection for vehicular traffic (other than one of the projects), which
38 will be competitive with the [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge
39 project or the Whitestone bridge project or the Throgs Neck bridge
40 project or the Marine parkway bridge project or the Cross Bay parkway
41 bridge project will be constructed or maintained until the bonds togeth-
42 er with interest thereon, interest on any unpaid installments of inter-
43 est, and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or
44 proceedings by or on behalf of the bondholders, are fully met and
45 discharged; provided that a tunnel, bridge, parkway, causeway, street,
46 road, highway or other connection for vehicular traffic shall be consid-
47 ered as competitive with the [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge
48 project or Whitestone bridge project or the Throgs Neck bridge project
49 only if it shall form a connection for vehicular traffic over, under, or
50 across the East river north of an extension to the east of the center
51 line of Seventy-third street in the borough of Manhattan, and shall be
52 considered as competitive with the Marine parkway bridge project or
53 Cross Bay parkway bridge project only if such tunnel, bridge, parkway,
54 causeway, street, road, highway or other connection for vehicular traf-
55 fic shall form a connection for vehicular traffic with Rockaway peninsu-
56 la across any part of the waters of Jamaica bay or Rockaway inlet west
A. 10789 3
1 of seventy-three degrees, forty-six minutes of west longitude. The
2 covenant herein contained restricting competitive traffic connections
3 with any project or projects shall be only for the benefit of the hold-
4 ers of bonds secured in whole or in part by the pledge of the revenues
5 of such project or projects. All covenants of the state made with the
6 holders of bonds issued before January first, nineteen hundred and
7 forty, are hereby confirmed and shall not be affected hereby.
8 § 5. Subdivision 4 of section 13-0341 of the environmental conserva-
9 tion law, as amended by chapter 546 of the laws of 1981, and such subdi-
10 vision as renumbered by chapter 17 of the laws of 1994, is amended to
11 read as follows:
12 4. In the Harlem River and the East River east of the [Triborough]
13 Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and in Long Island Sound west of a line drawn
14 from Hewlett's (King's) Point to the north end of Hart Island, thence to
15 the south end of Glen Island, and in their adjacent bays, coves, creeks
16 and confluent waters.
17 § 6. Subdivision 3 of section 13-0343 of the environmental conserva-
18 tion law, as amended by chapter 546 of the laws of 1981, is amended to
19 read as follows:
20 3. In the Harlem River and the East River east of the [Triborough]
21 Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and in Long Island Sound west of a line drawn
22 from Hewlett's (King's) Point to the north end of Hart Island, thence to
23 the south end of Glen Island, and in their adjacent bays, coves, creeks
24 and confluent waters, only such nets as are used to take lobsters or
25 crabs may be used.
26 § 7. Subdivision 6 of section 13-0347 of the environmental conserva-
27 tion law, as amended by chapter 37 of the laws of 2007, is amended to
28 read as follows:
29 6. In all waters from the [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge west
30 through the East River, Harlem River and those portions of the Hudson
31 River south of the George Washington bridge to a line drawn from Rocka-
32 way Point to Romer Shoals lighthouse, no person shall use a net to take
33 fish, except that landing nets and nets of not more than 10 feet in
34 length, operated by hand, may be used to take bait and shrimp, and cast
35 nets may be used to take Atlantic menhaden and mullets as provided in
36 subdivision one of section 13-0343 of this title.
37 § 8. The paragraph relating to interstate route connection 512 of
38 section 340-a of the highway law, as amended by chapter 470 of the laws
39 of 1971, is amended to read as follows:
40 Interstate Route Connection 512. Staten Island expressway from
41 Goethals bridge approach to Verrazano-Narrows bridge approach, Brook-
42 lyn-Queens expressway from Verrazano-Narrows bridge approach to Grand
43 Central parkway, Grand Central parkway from Brooklyn-Queens expressway
44 to [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge approach, Major Deegan express-
45 way from [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge approach to the Westches-
46 ter county line connecting with interstate route 502.
47 § 9. The paragraph relating to interstate route connection 516 of
48 section 340-a of the highway law, as added by chapter 585 of the laws of
49 1957, is amended to read as follows:
50 Interstate Route Connection 516. Bruckner expressway from [Triborough]
51 Robert F. Kennedy bridge approach to Cross-Bronx expressway.
52 § 10. Subdivision 3.4 of section 349-c of the highway law, as amended
53 by chapter 468 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
54 3.4. The state shall proceed with the construction of a section or
55 sections of said system after designs, plans, specifications and esti-
56 mates of cost thereof have been completed and approved by the city and
A. 10789 4
1 the commissioner of transportation, and the necessary property has been
2 acquired. The city may, however, elect to construct such section or
3 sections at its own expense in the manner provided by the city charter
4 or otherwise. Upon the completion by the state of a section or sections
5 of parkways constructed by the state in the city of New York, the
6 commissioner of transportation shall by official order transfer juris-
7 diction over the central express artery and adjacent landscape areas and
8 over adjacent service roads to the city of New York. All such parkways,
9 excepting such service roads shall be maintained by the city department
10 of transportation as parkways restricted to pleasure vehicles and with-
11 out access except at designated points, except that the city department
12 of transportation may adopt a rule permitting the use of a portion of
13 the Grand Central parkway between the [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy
14 bridge and the western leg of the Brooklyn-Queens expressway by single
15 unit commercial vehicles having no more than three axles and ten tires;
16 provided further that, contingent upon a fully executed memorandum of
17 understanding between the New York state department of transportation
18 and the New York city department of environmental protection, the city
19 department of transportation may adopt a rule permitting the use of the
20 Korean War Veterans parkway during the remediation of the Brookfield
21 landfill on Staten Island by not more than forty-ton motor vehicles
22 commonly classified as construction trucks owned and/or operated by the
23 department of environmental protection of the city of New York, its
24 agents or contractors for the purpose of the remediation of such land-
25 fill, provided that such trucks comply with all other provisions of
26 applicable state and local law. Parkway service roads shall be open to
27 mixed traffic. Upon the completion of a section or sections of express-
28 ways including incidental service roads constructed by the state in the
29 city of New York, the commissioner of transportation shall transfer
30 jurisdiction to the city of New York. The provisions of this article in
31 regard to design and construction shall apply also to reconstruction of
32 a section or sections of the state arterial system.
33 § 11. Subdivision 3.4 of section 349-c of the highway law, as amended
34 by chapter 223 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
35 3.4. The state shall proceed with the construction of a section or
36 sections of said system after designs, plans, specifications and esti-
37 mates of cost thereof have been completed and approved by the city and
38 the commissioner of transportation, and the necessary property has been
39 acquired. The city may, however, elect to construct such section or
40 sections at its own expense in the manner provided by the city charter
41 or otherwise. Upon the completion by the state of a section or sections
42 of parkways constructed by the state in the city of New York, the
43 commissioner of transportation shall by official order transfer juris-
44 diction over the central express artery and adjacent landscape areas and
45 over adjacent service roads to the city of New York. All such parkways,
46 excepting such service roads shall be maintained by the city department
47 of transportation as parkways restricted to pleasure vehicles and with-
48 out access except at designated points, except that the city department
49 of transportation may adopt a rule permitting the use of a portion of
50 the Grand Central parkway between the [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy
51 bridge and the western leg of the Brooklyn-Queens expressway by single
52 unit commercial vehicles having no more than three axles and ten tires.
53 Parkway service roads shall be open to mixed traffic. Upon the
54 completion of a section or sections of expressways including incidental
55 service roads constructed by the state in the city of New York, the
56 commissioner of transportation shall transfer jurisdiction to the city
A. 10789 5
1 of New York. The provisions of this article in regard to design and
2 construction shall apply also to reconstruction of a section or sections
3 of the state arterial system.
4 § 12. Section 349-f of the highway law, as amended by chapter 781 of
5 the laws of 1975, is amended to read as follows:
6 § 349-f. New York city routes. The following existing or proposed main
7 routes or thoroughfares, are designated herein, as aforesaid, viz.:
8 New England thruway from the Westchester county line to Bruckner
9 expressway; Bruckner expressway from New England thruway to [Triborough]
10 Robert F. Kennedy bridge approach; Hutchinson river parkway from the
11 Westchester county line to the Bronx-Whitestone bridge approach; Bronx
12 river parkway from the Westchester county line to Bruckner expressway;
13 Henry Hudson parkway from the Westchester county line to Miller highway
14 excepting the Henry Hudson bridge, provided that no portion of this
15 route from West Seventy-second street to the Cross Bronx expressway
16 shall be constructed or reconstructed so as to encroach in any way on or
17 over any land mapped or used for park purposes except for such temporary
18 encroachment of no more than ten feet in width from seventy-third street
19 to seventy-sixth street as may be essential during and for the purpose
20 of reconstruction or repair of the existing roadway following which
21 there shall be full restoration of park land; Major Deegan expressway
22 from the [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge to Central Park avenue at
23 the Westchester county line together with a connection to Broadway and
24 along Broadway to Manhattan college parkway; Cross Bronx expressway from
25 George Washington bridge approach to Throgs Neck bridge; Throgs Neck
26 expressway from Bruckner expressway to Throgs Neck bridge; Arthur V.
27 Sheridan expressway from Cross-Bronx expressway to Bruckner expressway;
28 Mosholu parkway from Henry Hudson parkway to Bronx river parkway; Bronx
29 and Pelham parkway from Bronx river parkway to New England thruway;
30 Boston road from Bronx and Pelham parkway to New England thruway; Miller
31 highway from Henry Hudson parkway to the Brooklyn Battery tunnel; and
32 from Brooklyn Battery tunnel to Brooklyn-Queens expressway; Franklin D.
33 Roosevelt drive from the Brooklyn Battery tunnel to [Triborough] Robert
34 F. Kennedy bridge approach; Harlem river drive from [Triborough] Robert
35 F. Kennedy bridge approach to George Washington bridge approach; Belt
36 parkway including Gowanus parkway to Third avenue and Sixtieth street,
37 Leif Erikson drive to Knapp street, Shore parkway, Belt parkway, South-
38 ern parkway and Cross Island parkway from Brooklyn Battery tunnel to
39 Bronx-Whitestone bridge [appraoch] approach; Nassau expressway from
40 Southern parkway to the Nassau county line; Brooklyn-Queens expressway
41 from Gowanus expressway to Grand Central parkway; Prospect expressway
42 from Gowanus expressway to Ocean parkway; Ocean parkway from Prospect
43 expressway to Shore parkway; Interborough parkway from Grand Central
44 Parkway to Belt parkway; Gowanus expressway from the Verrazano-Narrows
45 bridge to Third avenue at Gowanus parkway; Third Avenue from Gowanus
46 expressway to Hamilton avenue; Hamilton Avenue from Third Avenue to
47 Brooklyn Battery tunnel; Queens boulevard from Queensborough bridge
48 approach to Van Wyck expressway; Van Wyck expressway from Whitestone
49 expressway, including a connection to Grand Central parkway, to John F.
50 Kennedy international airport; Woodhaven boulevard from Queens boulevard
51 to Cross Bay parkway bridge northerly approach; Cross Bay parkway from
52 Cross Bay bridge southerly approach to Short Front parkway; Shore Front
53 parkway from Cross Bay parkway generally along the shore line of the
54 Atlantic ocean to the Nassau expressway at the Nassau county line;
55 Queens-Midtown expressway from Queens-Midtown tunnel approach to Queens
56 Boulevard; Horace Harding expressway from Queens Boulevard to the Nassau
A. 10789 6
1 county line; a connection between Brooklyn-Queens expressway and North-
2 ern boulevard in the vicinity of Grand Central parkway; Grand Central
3 parkway from [Triborough] Robert F. Kennedy bridge approach to Nassau
4 county line; Whitestone expressway from Bronx-Whitestone bridge approach
5 to Van Wyck expressway and continuing to Grand Central parkway; Clear-
6 view expressway from Throgs Neck bridge to Nassau expressway; Richmond
7 parkway from Staten Island expressway to Outerbridge crossing approach;
8 Staten Island expressway from Goethals bridge to the Verrazano-Narrows
9 bridge with a connection to Bayonne bridge; Willowbrook parkway from
10 Staten Island expressway to Great Kills park; West Shore expressway from
11 Staten Island expressway to Outerbridge crossing; Shore Front drive
12 northerly from the terminus of West Shore expressway at Staten Island
13 expressway, thence generally along the shore lines of Kill Van Kull, the
14 Narrows, Lower New York bay and Raritan bay to the approach to Outer-
15 bridge crossing.
16 § 13. Terms occurring in laws, regulations, contracts and other docu-
17 ments. Whenever Triborough bridge is referred to or designated in any
18 law, regulation, contract or document, such reference or designation
19 shall be deemed to refer to Robert F. Kennedy bridge, and no such laws,
20 regulations, contracts or other documents shall be thereby impaired in
21 any way.
22 § 14. The New York state department of transportation, the New York
23 city department of transportation and the Triborough bridge and tunnel
24 authority shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate
25 signage in conformance with section two of this act within such time and
26 in such manner as they shall deem appropriate.
27 § 15. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amend-
28 ments to subdivision 3.4 of section 349-c of the highway law made by
29 section ten of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion
30 of such subdivision pursuant to section 2 of chapter 468 of the laws of
31 2006, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section eleven
32 of this act shall take effect.
