What's happening
This bill requires public utility companies to remove or relocate utility poles within 90 days after public roadway improvements.
Why it matters
Reduces safety and accessibility hazards. By requiring quicker removal or relocation of utility poles after roadwork, this bill addresses common issues where leftover poles can obstruct sidewalks, impede traffic, or create dangerous conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
Holds utility companies more accountable. The 90-day deadline establishes clear expectations and legal requirements for utility companies, potentially reducing long-standing conflicts or delays between municipalities and utilities over who is responsible for timely pole relocation.
Speeds up public infrastructure projects. Faster utility adjustments mean that completed roadway improvements can be fully utilized sooner, benefiting community mobility, emergency services, and local businesses that depend on accessible and updated infrastructure.
Albany, before your first meeting.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Move Utility Poles for Roads
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7972
IN SENATE
March 15, 2018
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to directing the public service commission to require public utility companies to remove or relocate utility poles upon the completion of public roadway improvements
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 5 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. The commission shall adopt and implement rules and regulations requiring each public utility company, which exercises control over utility poles, to remove or relocate any such poles as shall be determined to be necessary by the state or any political subdivision thereof in connection with the construction or improvement of any public roadway by the state or such political subdivision. Such utility poles shall be removed or relocated, as the case may be, within ninety days of the receipt by the public utility company of notice, from the state or a political subdivision, that the public roadway has been completed or improved.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15133-01-8
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 service law, in relation to directing the public service commission to require public utility companies to remove or relocate utility poles upon the completion of public roadway improve- ments
Purpose
Directs the public service commission to implement rules requiring public utility companies to remove or relocate their utility poles when necessary for road improvement.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 5 of the public service law by adding subdivision 7.
Section two is the effective date.
Justification
This bill would require the public service commission to create a time clock of 90 days in which a utility is required to remove and/or relo- cate poles after the local responsible government entity (county, city, township) has declared a traffic improvement as completed and ready for traffic.
Legislative history
2016: S.4349 - 3rd Reading Calendar 2015: S.4349 - Referred to Energy & Telecommunications
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.