Relates to establishing a state high speed rail planning board

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill would add a new Transportation Law Article 23 to create an eleven-member High Speed Rail Planning Board within DOT. New Transportation Law § 490 would:

Establish the new Board, which would consist of the Commissioner of DOT, the President of the Metro North Railroad, and seven members appointed by the Governor, with two on recommendation of the Temporary President of the Senate, two on recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly, and one each on recommendation of the minority leaders of the Senate and Assembly;

Establish the qualifications for members of the Board and require that members be appointed within 30 days;

Require the Board to meet publicly at least quarterly; and

Provide that the Governor shall designate an Executive Director to assist the Board.

New Transportation Law § 491 would provide the Board's powers and duties, which would include:

Providing DOT with input on environmental impact studies necessary for planning for a high speed rail system and development of a rail transportation investment program;

Soliciting and receiving stakeholder and public opinions, including a requirement to hold at least six public hearings in regionally diverse areas of the State;

Evaluating all available high speed rail systems and making recommendations on an appropriate system for the State;

Researching options with respect to agreements with private entities necessary to permit high speed trains and providing DOT with recommendations on the form such agreements should take;

Advising DOT on funding sources for the development and operation of a high speed rail system; and

Reporting to the Governor and the Legislature, within two years, on a fully developed and consensus plan for financing of high speed rail and the organizational entity that should oversee the State's high speed rail program.

Section 2 of the bill would make this Act take effect immediately and expire in three years.

Existing law

Under Transportation Law § 14-c, DOT is responsible for coordinating intercity passenger rail systems within the State.

Statement in support

A modern, efficient passenger rail system is critical to promoting economic development throughout the State, while at the same time reducing motorists' dependence on foreign oil and the impact of car travel on our environment. The federal government has made it a goal to achieve national high speed rail service, and has awarded New York funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help implement a high speed passenger rail system in New York.

The High Speed Rail Planning Board established by this bill is the next, necessary step to achieving this goal. It would create a bipartisan entity that could bring together experts, stakeholders and the public to address the critical issues necessary to design, finance, build, operate and maintain a high speed rail system. The Board will also serve as an advisor to DOT in identifying additional funding that may help to finance the State's high speed rail system. At the end of its review and investigation of options for implementing such a system, the Board will issue a report setting forth a fully developed and consensus plan for financing of high speed rail and the organizational entity that should oversee the State's high speed rail program.

Budget implications

This bill would have no State fiscal impact, because it would be continuing the work that is now being undertaken in the DOT.

Effective date

This bill would take effect immediately and would expire in three years.