Speaker Silver announces state budget funds for increased inspections of inter-city buses

March 30, 2012

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced that the state budget includes $1 million to increase safety inspections on inter-city buses, which have been involved in several tragic accidents over the last year.

The funding would be used to conduct additional inspections for buses that frequently violate safety standards.

"It is essential that we increase safety measures for the passengers of inter-city buses, many of which operate in my Chinatown community," Silver said. "This funding goes directly toward removing unsafe buses from our streets, which will help prevent accidents and give us the tools we need to crack down on operators who engage in reckless and unsafe business practices."

By establishing an additional risk-based inspection program, the Department of Transportation will be able to require operators who fail to meet performance standards to undergo comprehensive safety reviews and/or additional inspections.

There are currently two routine inspections per year and the additional funding will be used to pay for the extra inspections.

The Assembly last year passed a bill that would allow the city to issue permits regulating inter-city buses and designating pick-up and drop-off points for them. The Senate did not pass the bill and the Assembly reintroduced it during the current session.

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