What's happening
This bill requires that two members of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority be appointed by the mayor and common council of Buffalo.
Why it matters
Increases Buffalo’s voice in transit decisions. By mandating that two members of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) are appointed with direct input from the Buffalo mayor and common council, the bill strengthens the city’s influence over key transportation policies and projects that directly affect Buffalo residents.
Shifts power balance on the NFTA board. The change redistributes appointment authority, which could lead to board decisions that better reflect urban priorities, such as public transit improvements, economic development, or equity in service.
Sets specific term limits for new appointees. The initial terms for the Buffalo-appointed members are set to end on June 30, 2024, providing a clear timeline for both continuity and future opportunities to reassess representation and effectiveness.
Potential for increased accountability. With local officials more directly involved in appointments, Buffalo residents may find it easier to advocate for transit changes or hold leadership accountable for service quality and investment in the city.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Buffalo mayor
The bill would require one Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority member to be appointed upon the mayor’s written recommendation.
Buffalo Common Council
The bill would require a separate authority member to be appointed upon the council’s written recommendation.
Governor and State Senate
The governor would retain appointment power with Senate advice and consent, but two seats would require recommendations from Buffalo officials.
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
The bill would designate two existing board seats for Buffalo-recommended members, with their initial terms ending June 30, 2024.
Headline styles
Buffalo Gets Transit Appointments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1804
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring that two member positions to the Niagara Frontier transportation authority be appointed by the mayor and common council of the city of Buffalo
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1299-c of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 220 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(a) There is hereby created the "Niagara Frontier transportation authority." The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The authority shall consist of a chairman, ten other members and shall have two non-voting members as described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subdivision appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The chairman and all members shall be residents of the district. Of the ten members other than the chairman, one shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county executive, one shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the mayor of the city of Buffalo, one shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the Buffalo common council, and one shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county legislature. The chairman and each of the members shall be appointed for a term of eight years, provided however, that the chairman first appointed shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-three, and of the eight other members first appointed, one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred sixty-eight, two shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred sixty-nine, one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy, two shall serve for a term ending June thirti-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06068-01-7
A. 1804 2
eth, nineteen hundred seventy-one, one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-two and one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-three. The term of one of the members appointed to memberships first created by law after April first, nineteen hundred sixty-nine shall end on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-four, and the term of the other such member shall end on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-five. Following the expiration of any term ending on or after June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-seven, each member shall be appointed for a term of five years beginning on the day after the expiration date of such prior term; provided, however, that the term of the member first appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county executive and the term of the member first appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county legislature shall be for a term ending on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-six; provided further, however, that the term of the member first appointed upon the written recommendation of the mayor of the city of Buffalo and the term of the member first appointed upon the written recommendation of the Buffalo common council shall be for a term ending June thirtieth, two thousand twenty-four.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.