What's happening
This bill renames the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge as the Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway in New York law.
Why it matters
Renaming the bridge to honor Eleanor Roosevelt. could influence public memory and historical recognition, associating the site more closely with Roosevelt’s legacy and potentially shifting educational and tourist narratives around the bridge.
All legal references in New York State law. to the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge will be updated, ensuring clarity and consistency across official documents and potentially reducing confusion for future legal, administrative, and maintenance actions.
The bill does not change operational, financial, or management responsibilities. for the bridge (including its status as a toll-free pedestrian walkway and its role as a state park), so while the name changes, the arrangements for maintenance, park use, and public access remain intact.
The renaming could impact branding, tourism, and fundraising efforts. , as attaching Eleanor Roosevelt’s name may attract new attention, partnerships, or donations, especially from those interested in her historical significance or in supporting local parks.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Rename Walkway for Eleanor Roosevelt
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3413
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to changing the name of the walkway over the Hudson bridge to the Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 7-b and 9 of section 526 of the public authorities law, subdivision 7-b as added and subdivision 9 as amended by chapter 219 of the laws of 2010, are amended to read as follows:
7-b. The term ["walkway over the Hudson bridge"] "Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway" shall be deemed to mean the Poughkeepsie-Highland railroad bridge which was constructed across the Hudson river north of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson bridge[.];
9. The term "bridges" shall be deemed to mean collectively Mid-Hudson bridge, Rip Van Winkle bridge, Bear Mountain bridge, Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge, both spans of the Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon bridge, [walkway over the Hudson bridge] Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway, and incidental roads, approaches, structures and facilities;
§ 2. Subdivisions 1-a, 8 and 17 of section 528 of the public authorities law, subdivisions 1-a and 8 as amended and subdivision 17 as added by chapter 219 of the laws of 2010, are amended to read as follows:
1-a. To hold in the name of the state any real property acquired for its corporate purposes and, with the approval of the commissioner, to sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any real property or rights or easements therein, heretofore or hereafter acquired pursuant to the "state bridge authority act", determined by it to be not necessary for its corporate purposes, and shall accept ownership of the [walkway over the Hudson bridge] Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway in the name of the state, and acquire such incidental roads, approaches, structures and facilities as may be necessary.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07513-01-7
S. 3413 2
8. To charge tolls for the use of the bridges, with the exception of the [walkway over the Hudson bridge] Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway, subject to and in accordance with such agreements with bondholders and noteholders as may be made as hereinafter provided, except, however, that subject to such agreements the rates of tolls charged on the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson bridge, the Kingston Rhinecliff bridge, the Bear Mountain bridge, the Rip Van Winkle bridge, and the Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon bridge shall be the same.
17. To enter into a lease or operating agreement, for a period not to exceed ninety-nine years, with the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation for all or a portion of the [walkway over the Hudson bridge] Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway for the purpose of a state park. Such agreement may assign or allocate responsibility for the construction, operation, maintenance, replacement and management of the deck and approaches and structures providing public access to the state park, but the authority shall retain responsibility for maintaining the superstructure of the [walkway over the Hudson bridge] Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway. The office of parks, recreation and historic preservation is authorized to enter into such agreement, which may include the installation and maintenance by the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation of any personal property and equipment used in connection therewith. The office of parks, recreation and historic preservation shall propose in its annual budget an amount for all costs and obligations under such agreement and these costs may be supplemented by private donations.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to changing the name of the walkway over the Hudson bridge to the Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway
Purpose or general idea of bill
To name the walkway over the Hudson bridge "Eleanor Roosevelt Walkway, meaning the Poughkeepsie-Highland railroad bridge which was constructed across the Hudson river north of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Mid-Hudson bridge.
Summary of specific provisions
There are over 2,000 bridges, walkways and tunnels in New York State, all of which bear the names of men. The history of New York State, however, is marked by remarkable women who were groundbreakers, the first to accomplish a specific policy, social or electoral goal. These women are known for having contributed to civil and human rights, suffrage, social conditions, and the political landscape. Among them have been Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organizers of the Seneca Falls Convention; Susan B. Anthony social reformer, feminist and antislavery advocate; Bessie Buchanan the first African-American woman elected to the NYS Assembly; abolitionist, Union spy, and successful underground railroad facilitator Auburn resident Harriet Tubman; abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth; and many others including sculptors, writers, entertainers. There are no bridges, highways, walkways or tunnels named after women.
Justification
Eleanor Roosevelt, the longest serving First Lady, was a dynamic, innovative and influential figure during her husband's tenure as President and long after his passing. She was a champion for civil rights engaging black leaders Mary McLeod Bethune and Walter Francis White as she moved to oppose the poll tax, supporting the Southern Tenant Farmer's Union (open to all races) to improve working conditions and a more equitable distribution of farmers' profits under the Agricultural Adjustment Administration and pursued the inclusion of blacks included in government programs. Her advocacy for safe and sanitary housing resulted in the clearance of slums and the creation of planned communities known as "greenbelts." Eleanor Roosevelt's interest in the arts served to create the Federal Arts Project. While providing employment for diverse artists who would become part of the American artscape for generations to come such as Marsden Hartley, Romare Bearden, Louise Nevelson, and Jackson Pollock, the Project served to document the pathos of the Great Depression through the lens of Gordon Parks, Berenice Abbot, Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange.
Ultimately, Eleanor Roosevelt served as the emissary who walked across America and served as the President's eyes and ears as to the national condition. It is appropriate that a walkway in proximity to their Hyde Park home be named in recognition of this inimitable New York woman.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.6011 - Referred to Transportation
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.