Requires the MTA to file a copy of proposed station closings with various governmental agencies; provides that the MTA shall hold a public hearing on any proposed closings.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9362
IN ASSEMBLY
February 23, 2022
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EICHENSTEIN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
MTA to post a schedule of station closings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 1205 of the public authorities
2 law, as amended by chapter 224 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read
3 as follows:
4 5. (a) Any complete or partial closing of a passenger station within
5 the city of New York, or any means of public access to such facility,
6 except for purposes of repair or renovation or in case of emergency
7 shall be accomplished only if approved by resolution of the authority
8 adopted by not less than a majority of the whole number of members of
9 the authority then in office, and only after a public hearing. Such
10 hearing shall be held not less than thirty days after notice of such
11 proposed closing has been given to, and comments solicited from, the
12 community board [as established pursuant to section eighty-four of the
13 New York city charter] whose area of jurisdiction includes the station
14 proposed to be closed or otherwise affected.
15 (b) In the case of a planned complete closure of a passenger station
16 for purposes of repair or renovation, where such station will be out of
17 service for [sixty days] twenty-four hours or longer the MTA board shall
18 adopt a policy, within ninety days of the effective date of the chapter
19 of the laws of two thousand [nineteen] twenty-two which amended this
20 subdivision, that will ensure adequate communication of such work to
21 impacted stakeholders where such passenger station is located including
22 but not limited to: elected representatives, senate and assembly repre-
23 sentatives, and community boards at least [forty-five days] sixty days
24 prior to such closure. Such policy shall require the authority to notify
25 the local, state, and federal elected official or officials and affected
26 community board or boards whose district contains a passenger station
27 subject to a planned complete closure or is contiguous to a district
28 that contains a passenger station subject to a planned complete closure
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10365-02-2
A. 9362 2
1 located on the same line of service as the passenger station subject to
2 closure in writing. Such written notice shall provide such board or
3 boards with an option to request a presentation from the authority
4 regarding such planned complete closure. Upon request from such board or
5 boards the authority shall, at a date convenient to such board or boards
6 prior to such closure, present information regarding such closure and
7 related service alternatives and also allow for public comment. The
8 policy shall also require that the authority provide notice to the
9 public at least thirty days prior to such closure by: (i) posting notice
10 in the passenger stations that are scheduled for closure; and (ii) post-
11 ing notice on the authority's website and social media accounts; provid-
12 ing information about the planned complete closure, service alterna-
13 tives, and directions on how the public can provide comment to the
14 authority regarding such closure. The authority shall be required to
15 hold a public hearing after the filing of the scheduled closings but
16 prior to such closing date. Public hearings required by this subdivision
17 shall be held at one or more locations conveniently accessible to the
18 persons who would be affected by such closure. This subdivision shall
19 not apply to emergency station closures resulting from unforeseen
20 circumstances where such closure is necessary to ensure public health,
21 safety and welfare; provided however, that for any emergency or unfore-
22 seen closures the authority shall provide the notice required by this
23 subdivision within two business days after such closure.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any
25 station closings that occur no sooner than seven months after such
26 effective date.
