What's happening
This bill requires municipalities near major Metropolitan Transportation Authority hubs to conduct environmental impact reviews before comprehensive zoning changes.
Why it matters
Ensures transit capacity is considered. By mandating environmental impact reviews for zoning changes near major transit hubs, the bill requires municipalities to assess whether local subway and bus systems can handle increased ridership from new development.
Links land use to infrastructure planning. The legislation directly connects local zoning decisions with public transportation infrastructure, potentially preventing overdevelopment in areas where transit cannot support additional growth.
Could slow or complicate rezoning projects. Municipalities will need to conduct additional studies before approving major zoning changes, which may slow down or add costs to development processes but could also lead to more sustainable long-term growth.
Aims to protect quality of life and transit reliability. By requiring this review, the bill seeks to prevent overcrowding and strain on transit hubs, benefiting current riders and neighborhood residents.
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Who cares
MTA-served municipalities
They would have to conduct a state environmental quality review when initiating a comprehensive zoning plan designed around proximity and access to a transportation hub where more than four subway or bus lines converge.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The required review would assess whether transportation systems serving the hub can accommodate increased ridership associated with the zoning plan.
Subway and bus riders at affected hubs
The review would examine whether the transportation systems they use can handle increased ridership.
Headline styles
Require Transit Hub Review
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 40
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Environmental Transit Reviews
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Tony Avella
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3447
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to require an environmental impact review in certain instances
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any municipality that is served by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and initiates a comprehensive zoning plan that is designed in relation to its proximity and accessibility to a transportation hub where more than 4 subway or bus lines converge shall conduct an environmental impact review subject to the provisions of the state environmental quality review act under article 8 of the environmental conservation law and its implementing regulations, to determine if such transportation systems can assimilate increased ridership.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01286-01-7
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.