What's happening
This bill gives individual voting rights to representatives from Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland counties on the MTA board.
Why it matters
Increases local influence over MTA decisions. By granting individual voting rights to Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland county representatives, these suburban areas will have a more direct say in MTA policy, budget, and service decisions that affect their residents.
Addresses concerns about fair representation. Previously, these four counties shared a single collective vote, which potentially diluted their ability to advocate for unique local interests and needs. This change aims to ensure each county’s specific issues are better represented on the MTA board.
May shift priorities and resource allocation. With four distinct votes instead of one, board dynamics could change, potentially leading to more attention to suburban transit issues—such as commuter rail service, funding, and infrastructure improvements—rather than being dominated by New York City-centric concerns.
Could impact fare policies and capital planning. As these counties now have more influence, they may push for changes in fare structures, service expansions, or capital investments that benefit their constituents, potentially affecting the broader direction of the MTA’s future planning and spending.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Give Counties Full MTA Votes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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.
Give Hudson Valley MTA Votes
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3718
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 26, 2017
Introduced by Sens. LARKIN, SERINO -- 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 granting each of the representatives of the counties of Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Rockland on the metropolitan transportation authority a vote
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1263 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 3 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(1) There is hereby created the "metropolitan transportation authority." The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The authority shall consist of a chairman, sixteen other voting members, and two non-voting and four alternate non-voting members, as described in subparagraph two of this paragraph appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Any member appointed to a term commencing on or after June thirtieth, two thousand nine shall have experience in one or more of the following areas: transportation, public administration, business management, finance, accounting, law, engineering, land use, urban and regional planning, management of large capital projects, labor relations, or have experience in some other area of activity central to the mission of the authority. Four of the sixteen voting members other than the chairman shall be appointed on the written recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York; and each of seven other voting members other than the chairman shall be appointed after selection from a written list of three recommendations from the chief executive officer of the county in which the particular member is required to reside pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. Of the members appointed on recommendation of the chief executive officer of a county, one such member shall be, at the time of appointment, a resident of the county of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03982-01-7
S. 3718 2
Nassau, one a resident of the county of Suffolk, one a resident of the county of Westchester, one a resident of the county of Dutchess, one a resident of the county of Orange, one a resident of the county of Putnam and one a resident of the county of Rockland, provided that the term of any member who is a resident of a county that has withdrawn from the metropolitan commuter transportation district pursuant to section twelve hundred seventy-nine-b of this article shall terminate upon the effective date of such county's withdrawal from such district. Of the five voting members, other than the chairman, appointed by the governor without recommendation from any other person, three shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of the city of New York and two shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of such city or of any of the aforementioned counties in the metropolitan commuter transportation district. The chairman and each of the members shall be appointed for a term of six years, provided however, that the chairman first appointed shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one, provided that thirty days after the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand nine which amended this subparagraph, the term of the chairman shall expire; provided, further, that such chairman may continue to discharge the duties of his or her office until the position of chairman is filled by appointment by the governor upon the advice and consent of the senate and the term of such new chairman shall terminate June thirtieth, two thousand fifteen. The sixteen other members first appointed shall serve for the following terms: The members from the counties of Nassau and Westchester shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five; the members from the county of Suffolk and from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two; two of the members appointed on recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-four and, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one; two of the members appointed by the governor without the recommendation of any other person shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-two, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty and one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five. The two non-voting and four alternate non-voting members shall serve until January first, two thousand one. [The members from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall cast one collective vote.]
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1263 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 4 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(a) There is hereby created the "metropolitan transportation authority." The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The authority shall consist of a chairman and sixteen other members appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Any member appointed to a term commencing on or after June thirtieth, two thousand nine shall have experience in one or more of the following areas of expertise: transportation, public administration, business management, finance, accounting, law, engineering, land use, urban and regional planning, management of large capital projects, labor relations, or have experience in some other area of activity central to the mission of the authority. Four of the sixteen members other than the chairman shall be appointed on the written recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York; and each of
S. 3718 3
seven other members other than the chairman shall be appointed after selection from a written list of three recommendations from the chief executive officer of the county in which the particular member is required to reside pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. Of the members appointed on recommendation of the chief executive officer of a county, one such member shall be, at the time of appointment, a resident of the county of Nassau; one a resident of the county of Suffolk; one a resident of the county of Westchester; [and] one a resident of the county of Dutchess[,]; one a resident of the county of Orange[,]; one a resident of the county of Putnam; and one a resident of the county of Rockland, provided that the term of any member who is a resident of a county that has withdrawn from the metropolitan commuter transportation district pursuant to section twelve hundred seventy-nine-b of this article shall terminate upon the effective date of such county's withdrawal from such district. Of the five members, other than the chairman, appointed by the governor without recommendation from any other person, three shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of the city of New York and two shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of such city or of any of the aforementioned counties in the metropolitan commuter transportation district. The chairman and each of the members shall be appointed for a term of six years, provided however, that the chairman first appointed shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one, provided that thirty days after the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand nine which amended this paragraph, the term of the chairman shall expire; provided, further, that such chairman may continue to discharge the duties of his office until the position of chairman is filled by appointment by the governor upon the advice and consent of the senate and the term of such new chairman shall terminate June thirtieth, two thousand fifteen. The sixteen other members first appointed shall serve for the following terms: The members from the counties of Nassau and Westchester shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five; the members from the county of Suffolk and from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two; two of the members appointed on recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-four and, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one; two of the members appointed by the governor without the recommendation of any other person shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-two, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty and one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five. [The members from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall cast one collective vote.]
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amendments to subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1263 of the public authorities law made by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such paragraph pursuant to section 3 of chapter 549 of the laws of 1994, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.
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 granting each of the representatives of the counties of Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Rockland on the metropolitan transportation authority a vote
Purpose
Presently, the counties of Dutchess. Orange, Putnam and Rockland are granted only partial representation on the MTA Board. This legislation will increase the voting power, and thus the representation, of the four Hudson Valley counties, commonly referred to as the "quarter-pounders" on the MTA Board. Currently, representatives from these four counties can cast only one collective vote. Instead of one collective vote, this legislation authorizes these counties one full vote for each county.
These four counties have been with only one collective vote on the MTA Board since first being granted representation in 1987. Since then, the population of these counties have exploded and the number of New York City commuters who have migrated and now reside in the upstate counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland has increased dramatically. In comparison, the commuter counties of Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk each have one full vote. The four Hudson Valley counties should have a greater voice on the MTA Board because of its increase in population of resident commuters and because of each counties substantial financial contribution to the MTA.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends section 1263 (1)(a)(1) of the Public Authorities Law to provide that members of the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall cast one vote each, rather than one collective vote.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S2211-Referred to Transportation/A1824 referred to Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions 2013-2014: S3990-Referred to Transportation/A1194 referred to Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions 2011-2012: A407 referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions 2009-2010: A9786 referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions/ S1150 committed to Finance 2007-2008: A3191 referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions/ S904 referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the amendments to subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1263 of the Public Authorities law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such paragraph and shall be deemed to expire therewith.
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