What's happening
This bill requires state-maintained canal bridges to allow commercial motor vehicle passage and mandates public hearings before bridge closures.
Why it matters
Ensures year-round commercial traffic. By mandating that state-maintained canal bridges must not impede commercial motor vehicles, the bill prioritizes uninterrupted access for trucking, freight, and other business-related traffic, which could help local economies and supply chains.
Limits unilateral bridge closures. The new requirement for at least one public hearing before any state-initiated closure or removal of a canal bridge gives local residents, businesses, and stakeholders a formal voice in decisions that can significantly impact community connectivity and commerce.
Shifts focus from administrative discretion. Previously, the commissioner of transportation could decide not to maintain a bridge based on convenience and alternate crossings. The amendment removes this discretion, emphasizing the importance of keeping bridges open and accessible for commercial purposes unless a public process determines otherwise.
May require increased state investment. The state will likely need to allocate more resources to maintain and upgrade canal bridges to commercial vehicle standards, potentially resulting in greater infrastructure spending but also improved reliability for businesses using these routes.
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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 Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Michael J. Norris
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
125
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02352-01-9
S. 125 2
each such bridge shall be continued as a bridge for highway traffic. In 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the canal law, in relation to maintaining bridges in a manner to not impede commercial motor vehicles
Purpose
This legislation would require the State to maintain canal lift bridges in a manner not to impede commercial vehicle traffic as defined in subdivision four-a of section two of the transportation law. Further this legislation requires at least on public hearing in a community where the bridge to be closed is located.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends Section 62 of the canal law to require the State to maintain canal lift bridges in a manner not to impede commercial traffic as defined by subdivision four-a of section two of the transportation law. a Further this section requires at least one public hearing in a community where the bridge to be closed is located.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Canal lift bridges provide a critical transportation resource for both residents and business in the affected community. Currently the State often allows these bridges to deteriorate to such a point that they must be closed, as the law allows them to not have to maintain a canal lift bridge as open as long as in the State's discretion there is no alter- nate crossing provided. This discretion is significant and has allowed for many upstate canal lift bridges to deteriorate to such a point that they cannot be used. This has affected residents and business with long- er daily commutes to work, school, and business which creates a negative impact on their and their communities lives. It is unconscionable to think that infrastructure needs can be so ignored to allow this to happen. This legislation would require these canal lift bridges to be maintained if that bridge being closed would impede commerce, transpor- tation of students, or agriculture.
Legislative history
S. 695 Passed Senate in 2017 S.2658A; Passed Senate in 2015 and 2016
Fiscal implications
Unknown.
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.