Establishes metropolitan transportation authority disabled riders' council

Summary of specific provisions

The bill establishes the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Riders' Council for People with Disabilities to study and investigate all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its subsidiaries, monitor its performance, and make recommendations to improve its operation.

The bill requires that the Council shall consist of fifteen members who are regular transit users and who are people with disabilities. One member shall be appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York; one on the recommendation of the president of the city council; one on the recommendation of the New York state comptroller; one on the recommendation of each of the borough presidents of the city of New York; one on the recommendation of each of the county executives of Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Orange. Each of the members shall serve for two-year terms. The Council shall select a Chair from its membership. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments for the balance of the original member's term.

The bill requires that the members of the Council will receive no compensation but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

The bill requires that the Council shall provide support services to its members so that they may perform their duties, including but not limited to transportation, telecommunication, and accessible technology support. The Chair may hire staff and consultants for any funds made available to the Council.

The bill allows that the Council may request and shall receive assistance and data from any political subdivision of the state to enable it to properly carry out its duties.

The bill creates an additional non-voting member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority who shall serve an eighteen-month term and is recommended to the governor by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Riders' Council for People with Disabilities.

The bill provides a definition for "disability" and "disabled."

Justification

In New York City, only 53 out of 468 MTA passenger stations are ADA-compliant for people in wheelchairs. Elevator and escalator maintenance problems are rampant and little is done to alert riders who depend on these facilities about breakdowns and alternative routes. The hard of hearing are unable to make sense of train announcements even though technology exists that could improve this. Platform gaps, a noted problem on the Long Island Railroad, are of a particular threat to the safety of the visually impaired. The recent closure of station agent booths and the elimination of many station agent personnel disproportionately impact those with disabilities. New York City and its commuter rails are far behind other major cities in accommodating the needs of riders with disabilities.

One of the most important ways we can begin to address this crisis is to correct the lack of representation of people on the board of the MTA itself. In 2006, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer published The State of Repairs: An Examination of Elevator and Escalator Maintenance and Repairs in New York City 's Subway System. In this report, he concluded that while the MTA does have the New York City Transit Riders Council "they are not charged with the specific responsibly of representing the needs of disabled riders. And while the MTA has an ADA compliance coordination committee, it is informal and not comprised of appointed members. A legislatively-mandated body representing disabled riders is needed to ensure the issues of the disability community are identified and addressed."

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

Unknown.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.