It’s been an exciting week in Albany, with three important bills working their way through the New York State Legislature.
Speed cameras
Governor Cuomo made news last month when he directed the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to enact harsher penalties for texting while driving, but as TSTC has pointed out, he has not pushed legislation that would allow New York City to crack down on speeding. Despite Governor Cuomo’s lack of leadership on the issue, the City came one step closer to getting speed cameras when the City Council adopted a home rule resolution in favor of implementing “speed violation monitoring systems in school speed zones by means of photo devices.” A “slimmed-down” version of the bill is in front of the State legislature, which would need to be voted on before the legislative session ends (currently scheduled to end on June 20, though the Governor could extend it). This iteration of the bill would allow New York City to implement 20 speed cameras near schools.
Transit Lockbox Bill
Yesterday, the New York State Senate unanimously passed a lockbox bill, that would prevent the State from stealing funds dedicated to transit and using them for other needs. In 2011, in reaction to the State using MTA funds like a rainy-day piggy bank, an early iteration of this bill that only applied to transit funds dedicated to the MTA, passed the legislature unanimously in both houses. Unfortunately, the Governor changed the law when he signed it, rendering it ineffective. His modifications to the law made it so that impact statements, which help legislators and the public understand how future cuts to transit would impact service, would no longer be required.
In 2012, the bill was revamped and reintroduced by the sponsors, Senator Golden and Assemblyman Brennan. The new bill expanded its scope, applying not just to the MTA, but to all dedicated transit funds across the state. While there was no movement on this bill in 2012, it was a pleasant surprise to the bill’s extensive list of supporters when it started moving again this week. It is expected to be voted on by the Assembly early next week. This bill is particularly timely given that in this year’s budget, New York stole yet again from transit riders.
SBS Flashing Lights
The third item is a bill that would bring flashing lights back to New York City’s Select Bus Service (SBS) buses. Previously, the MTA and New York City Transit used flashing blue lights on SBS buses to help distinguish them from local buses. The law, however, currently only allows volunteer firefighters and EMTs to use blue lights on their vehicles. So earlier this year, the use of flashing blue lights on buses was halted to avoid confusion between emergency vehicles and buses.
SBS fares must be paid at sidewalk ticket vending machines, so at bus stops that serve both SBS and local buses, it is critical for passengers to be able to distinguish what type of bus is coming well in advance of its arrival. Authorizing the use of flashing purple lights would solve the problem: purple lights aren’t used for emergency vehicles, and they would help passengers differentiate between SBS buses and local buses.
Nadine Lemmon also contributed to this story.
