What's happening
This bill requires an independent economic impact statement before any toll increase on New York-New Jersey Port Authority bridges or tunnels.
Why it matters
Mandates an independent review. By requiring that an economic impact statement be conducted by an independent contractor, the bill aims to ensure that any proposed toll increase is scrutinized objectively, potentially reducing the risk of arbitrary or inadequately justified price hikes.
Provides transparency for affected communities. The focus on assessing the economic impact on “all communities affected” means that the potential consequences for commuters, local businesses, and residents must be publicly considered before tolls can be raised. This could help communities advocate for fairer outcomes.
Introduces a delay mechanism. Imposing a minimum 30-day waiting period after the economic impact statement is issued gives the public and policymakers time to review findings, voice concerns, and potentially influence decisions about toll increases.
Requires bi-state cooperation. The bill only takes effect if New Jersey enacts similar legislation, emphasizing the shared governance of Port Authority bridges and tunnels and potentially setting a precedent for more coordinated, transparent regional infrastructure policies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Toll Impact Study
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1434
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Require Toll Impact Study
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2818
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sens. LANZA, SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 relating to declaring the policy of the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within the port of New York district, in relation to economic impact statements prior to the increase of tolls for the use of bridges and tunnels
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 11 of chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 relating to declaring the policy of the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within the port of New York district, as amended by chapter 807 of the laws of 1955, is amended to read as follows:
The port authority is hereby authorized to make and enforce such rules and regulations and to establish, levy and collect such tolls and other charges in connection with any vehicular bridges and tunnels which it may now or hereafter be authorized to own, construct, operate or control (including the said Holland tunnel and the said Midtown Hudson tunnel), as it may deem necessary, proper or desirable, which said tolls and charges shall be at least sufficient to meet the expenses of the construction, operation and maintenance thereof, and to provide for the payment of, with interest upon, and the amortization and retirement of bonds or other securities or obligations issued or incurred for bridge or tunnel purposes. There shall be allocated to the cost of the construction, operation and maintenance of such bridges and tunnels, such proportion of the general expenses of the port authority as it shall deemed properly chargeable thereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no toll or other charge in connection with any vehicular bridge or tunnel shall be increased until not less than thirty days after the issuance of an economic impact statement on
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00378-01-7
S. 2818 2
the proposed increase. Such economic impact statement shall be issued by an independent contractor engaged by the authority based on a study of the economic impact of such proposed increase of the toll or other charge upon all communities affected thereby.
§ 2. This act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the state of New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect with this act, but if the state of New Jersey shall have already enacted such legislation, this act shall take effect immediately; provided that the state of New Jersey shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of the enactment of the legislation provided for in section one of this act in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 relating to declaring the policy of the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within the port of New York district, in relation to economic impact statements prior to the increase of tolls for the use of bridges and tunnels
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation requires the Port Authority to acquire an economic impact statement prior to increasing bridge and tunnel tolls.
Summary of specific provisions
The Port Authority can only increase their tolls of any project operated by the authority within 30 days after the issuance of an economic impact statement on the proposed increase. This statement, conducted by an independent contractor, is to show the effects of the proposed increase in tolls as it relates to the surrounding communities.
Justification
The Port Authority Officials have acknowledged that there is an overall economic impact upon the entire metropolitan region resulting from increases in tolls connecting the bridges and tunnels in New York City and New Jersey. It is important that before any further toll increases are imposed at these facilities, by either MTA or the Port Authority that the people of the State of New York, particularly those living in the metropolitan region, are advised of the detrimental impact that further toll increases would have on the regional economy.
Prior legislative history
2017: S.2818 - Passed Senate / A.3258- Referred to Corporations 2016: S.3391 - Passed Senate. / A.6495 - Referred to Corporations 2015: S.3391 - Passed Senate / A.6495 - Referred to Corporations 2014: S.2472 - Passed Senate / A.520 - Referred to Corporations 2012: S.6034 - Referred to Corporations / A.0348 - Referred to Corporations 2010: S.1819 - Referred to Transportation / A.7155 - Referred to Corpo- rations 2009: S.1819 - Referred to Transportation / A.7155 - Referred to Corpo- rations 2008: S.3031 - Referred to Transportation / A.2504 - Referred to Corpo- rations 2007: S.3032 - Referred to Transportation / A.2504 - Referred to Ways & Means 2006: S.3446 - Referred to Transportation / A.6646 - Passed Assembly 2005: S.3446 - Referred to Transportation / A.6646 - Referred to Corpo- rations 2004: S.1547 - Referred to Transportation / A.341S - Referred to Corpo- rations 2003: S.1547 - Referred to Transportation / A.3415 - Referred to Corpo- rations 2002: S.1432 - Referred to Transportation / A.4038 - Referred to Corpo- rations 2001: S.1432 - Referred to Transportation / A.4038 - Referred to Corpo- rations 2000: S.2148 - Referred to Transportation / A.4443 - Referred to Corpo- rations 1999: S.2148 - Referred to Transportation / A.4443 - Referred to Corpo- rations 1998: S.6224 - Referred to Transportation / A.9438- Referred to Corpo- rations
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the state of New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect; but if the state of New Jersey shall have already enacted such legislation, then this act shall take effect immediately and provided that the state of New Jersey shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the occur- rence of the enactment of the provisions Provided for in this act in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effecting the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.