ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
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ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING |
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SUBJECT: |
State Bridge Inspections and Evaluations |
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PURPOSE: |
To obtain information on the New York State Department of Transportation's bridge inspection process and to assess the comprehensiveness and accuracy of information provided to the public of bridge structural conditions and deficiencies. |
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ALBANY |
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The New York State Highway Law requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish and implement a comprehensive bridge management and inspection program. The purpose of the program is to "facilitate the systematic organization and coordination of bridge inspection, maintenance, and repair information and practices to ensure and provide for sound comprehensive bridge management, thorough bridge inspections and proper, cost effective preventive maintenance for all bridges" that are publicly-owned, operated or maintained. The Highway Law also requires DOT to develop a "uniform code of bridge inspection," to inspect every publicly-owned, operated or maintained bridge at least once every two years, and to perform bridge structural and foundation system evaluations in conjunction with the inspections. Recent events and news reports have raised questions regarding DOT's bridge inspection process and the detection of serious bridge conditions, as well as problems with the bridge inspection and evaluation information provided to the general public. This hearing is intended to provide the Committee with an opportunity to obtain information on the DOT bridge inspection program including, without limitation, the facts and circumstances concerning the westbound I-290/I-190 bridge in Tonawanda and the Dunn Memorial Bridge in the Capital District, as well as to examine the comprehensiveness and accuracy of bridge inspection and evaluation findings provided to the public by the Department. Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above public 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 further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources. 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. |
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David F. Gantt |
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PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM Persons wishing to present testimony at the joint public hearing on State Bridge Inspections and Evaluations are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and return it to:
Simonia Brown |
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I plan to attend the following joint public hearing on the State Bridge Inspections and Evaluations to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Transportation on Monday, March 6, 2006. |
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement. |
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects: |
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I do not plan to attend the above hearing. |
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I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports. |
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I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list. |
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: |
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*** Click here for printable form *** |
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