What's happening
This bill requires New York State to maintain canal system bridges so they do not impede commercial motor vehicles and mandates a public hearing before closing or removing a bridge.
Why it matters
Ensures commercial trucking routes stay open and efficient. By requiring bridges over the canal system to be maintained so they do not impede commercial motor vehicles, the bill directly supports New York’s freight, logistics, and supply chain infrastructure, which is vital for businesses and consumers statewide.
Limits sudden disruptions to local economies and communities. Mandating a public hearing before any bridge closure or removal means local stakeholders will have a voice, reducing the risk of unanticipated negative impacts on commerce, emergency services, and daily commutes.
Shifts state responsibility for infrastructure continuity. The amendment removes the commissioner’s discretion to only keep bridges open when “public convenience” requires it, signaling a stronger statewide commitment to maintaining critical transportation links, regardless of alternate crossings.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Keep Canal Bridges Truck-Friendly
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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.
Keep Canal Bridges Truck-Friendly
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7166
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. NORRIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the canal law, in relation to maintaining bridges in a manner to not impede commercial motor vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 62 of the canal law, as amended by chapter 335 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
§ 62. Maintenance by state of certain bridges over the canal system. All highway or pedestrian, lift or movable bridges over the canal system other than highway bridges connecting parts of a state highway heretofore constructed as a part of the barge canal improvement shall be reconstructed, improved, maintained and repaired at the expense of the state, [if in the opinion of the commissioner of transportation, the public convenience requires such bridges to be maintained where no alternate crossing has been provided] in a manner so as not to impede commercial motor vehicles as defined in subdivision four-a of section two of the transportation law. In the event the commissioner of transportation determines that any such bridge is no longer required for the convenience of the public, he shall have power to close, remove or relocate such bridge, provided at least one public hearing shall be conducted in the community or communities where the bridge to be closed or removed is located. The commissioner of transportation shall have the supervision and direction of such reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, repair, closing, removing or relocation. All bridges over the canal system other than lift, movable, pedestrian or state highway bridges heretofore constructed as part of the barge canal improvement shall be reconstructed, improved, maintained and repaired at the expense of the state under the supervision and direction of the commissioner of transportation, if, in his opinion, the public convenience requires that each such bridge shall be continued as a bridge for highway traffic. In
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04316-01-7
A. 7166 2
the event the commissioner of transportation is requested by any municipality to reconstruct or improve any such bridge, he is hereby empowered to do so, provided, however, that prior to such reconstruction or improvement the municipality enters into a written agreement that such bridge thereafter shall become a part of the highway system or systems which it may connect and the maintenance, repair, improvement, replacement or closing of any such bridge shall be governed by the provisions of the highway law, except that any such bridges situate in a city shall be maintained, repaired, improved, replaced or closed in the same manner and subject to the provisions of any special law which may apply or to the same provisions of law as apply to other streets and bridges in such city or in the case of such bridges situate in a village, such bridges shall be maintained, repaired, improved, replaced or closed in the same manner and subject to the same provisions of law as apply to other streets and bridges in such village. Any bridge over the New York state canal system or abandoned part thereof which joins parts of a state highway shall be under the jurisdiction of the commissioner of transportation and deemed to be part of the state highway system and such bridges shall be constructed, reconstructed, improved, maintained, repaired, closed or relocated pursuant to the provisions of the highway law and the cost of such work shall be paid from moneys available for construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance or repair of state highways.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.