Directs the metropolitan transportation authority to provide safety briefings to passengers aboard Metro-North trains, and train personnel in safety procedures.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1708
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring a
safety briefing of Metro-North commuter railroad passengers to be
conducted at certain times
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new
2 section 1279-j to read as follows:
3 § 1279-j. Safety briefing of passengers plan; implementation on
4 Metro-North commuter railroad. The authority is hereby authorized and
5 directed to implement a safety briefing of passengers plan not later
6 than January first, two thousand twenty-five, for the benefit of persons
7 utilizing transportation and other related services of the Metro-North
8 commuter railroad. Such program shall include, but not be limited to,
9 provisions for the following:
10 1. Before initial departure of each train carrying passengers, and
11 periodically thereafter, at the discretion of the authority at stations
12 where the greatest number of passengers board the train, the conductor,
13 or the conductor's designee, shall immediately communicate live and/or
14 by recorded, visual and/or audio images:
15 (a) Evacuation procedures;
16 (b) Location and means for opening the passenger entry doors and emer-
17 gency exits;
18 (c) Location of first aid and survival equipment;
19 (d) Location and operation of fire extinguishers.
20 In the event of a disaster or emergency, the conductor, or the conduc-
21 tor's designee shall communicate the safety briefing message as often as
22 necessary to ensure passenger safety.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03430-01-3
S. 1708 2
1 2. The briefings required by subdivision one of this section may be
2 delivered by means of an approved recording playback device that is
3 audible to each passenger under normal noise levels.
4 3. The training of conductors, trainmen and other designated employees
5 in emergency techniques and procedures, interoperable communications,
6 handling and positioning of stricken commuters, and knowledge of proce-
7 dures and equipment used during evacuation procedures.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
