What's happening
This bill requires public notice and hearings before any significant service changes by the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority.
Why it matters
Expands community involvement. By defining "substantial change" broadly (including frequency, routes, and stop closures), the bill ensures that a wide range of riders and communities are notified and have a chance to respond before changes take effect.
Increases transparency and accountability. The requirement to notify elected officials, post detailed information in libraries, government buildings, and on affected buses and stops enhances oversight and prevents abrupt or poorly communicated service cuts.
Protects transit-dependent populations. Riders who rely heavily on public transit, often including low-income, elderly, or disabled individuals, will have more opportunities to voice concerns and influence decisions that could significantly impact their mobility and daily lives.
Sets higher standards for public outreach. By mandating large, clearly displayed posters and multiple forms of notice, the bill aims to reach more people, making it harder for significant service changes to go unnoticed by those most affected.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Public Hearings for Service Changes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2162
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring public notice and hearing prior to any planned substantial change in service of the Rochester-Genesee regional transportation authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1299-hhh to read as follows:
§ 1299-hhh. Public hearings and notice. 1. For the purposes of this section, the term substantial change in service shall be defined as any change in frequency of service or change in route, or complete or partial closing of a passenger stop or route.
2. (a) A public hearing or hearings shall be held at least thirty days prior to any substantial change at one or more locations conveniently accessible to the persons who would be affected by such change in service.
(b) At least thirty days prior to the public hearing or hearings, the authority shall give notice to the elected town board members or equivalent in areas affected by route changes and shall provide detailed information on the proposed service changes. In addition, the authority shall display posters in a form not smaller than eleven inches by seventeen inches on buses and at bus stops operating on the affected route at least thirty days prior to the public hearing or hearings. Such posters shall describe the proposed service change in detail and shall provide the date, time and location of the public hearing or hearings and shall state that the proposed service change shall be open to discussion and that members of the public shall have the right to speak at the hearing.
(c) Public hearing notices shall also be placed at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe county, as well as in any public library in any
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07846-01-7
A. 2162 2
town or on any route affected by the change, and in the town or city hall of the areas affected by the change.
(d) All notices in this section shall be in addition to any other notices required by law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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.