SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building, Second Floor
Tuesday
December 13, 2005
10:00 a.m.
Albany, New York

TESTIMONY WILL BE BY INVITATION ONLY

Public transit systems are key elements to New York State's transportation infrastructure, assisting in commerce and recreation for millions of New Yorkers. In upstate New York, public transit provides alternatives for individuals who do not have access to other modes of transportation. New York's citizens rely on public transit for travel to school, to work, to medical care, and other social services. In addition, the public transit system supports energy conservation and congestion reduction by providing an alternative to cars on New York's streets and highways. An efficient and effective public transit system is vital to a healthy economy and environment in New York.

This hearing will provide the Assembly Transportation Committee an opportunity to assess upstate public transit programs and services funded by the 2005-2006 State Budget. The Committee is interested in obtaining testimony on capital issues concerning upstate transit providers such as the acquisition of vehicles, the level of state of good repair, the introduction of new technologies, and system infrastructure such as bus shelters, maintenance and fueling facilities. The Committee is also interested in obtaining testimony relating to the operating performance of the public transit systems, including information on fare structures, paratransit and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and service and ridership levels.

Persons invited to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on The Impact of the State Budget on Upstate Transit Systems are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and return it to:

Simonia Brown
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Transportation
Room 513 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: browns@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4881
Fax: (518) 455-4128

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

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