What's happening
This bill requires a study of entrance and exit ramp safety and signage on the Southern State Parkway in Nassau and Suffolk counties, with a report due in two years.
Why it matters
Targets a long-standing regional safety concern. By focusing specifically on entrance and exit ramps and related signage, the study addresses well-documented safety issues on the Southern State Parkway, which has a history of collisions and wrong-way driver incidents.
Involves a wide range of stakeholders. The bill requires collaboration among state agencies, local police, transportation departments, government officials, and potentially other groups, suggesting that recommendations will be informed by local knowledge and expertise, not just top-down mandates.
Considers practical and financial solutions. The study will look not only at design and signage changes for increased safety but also at the feasibility of those changes and the availability of federal funding, making any recommendations more actionable and financially realistic.
Could set a precedent for other roadways. If successful, the study’s recommendations and process could serve as a model for addressing similar safety issues on other highways across New York State, potentially influencing broader transportation policy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Southern State Parkway Safety
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
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.
Study Southern State Parkway Safety
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1671
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to a Southern State Parkway study; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 23 to read as follows:
§ 23. Southern State Parkway study. 1. The department, in consultation with the department of motor vehicles, the governor's traffic safety committee, local police agencies, local transportation entities in Nassau and Suffolk counties, local government stakeholders, and any other agency or group the department deems necessary to enlist the aid of, shall conduct a study to evaluate the configuration of entrance and exit ramps, and signage at entrance ways and exits on the Southern State Parkway in Nassau and Suffolk counties to determine whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions and the instances of wrong way drivers. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, design and safety of the configuration and signage of entrance and exit ramps; the feasibility of implementing design changes to increase safety and reduce the likelihood of collisions and wrong way driving; the feasibility of implementing signage design changes to increase driver visibility of such signage and reduce the likelihood of a collision and wrong way driving; and federal funding available for highway safety improvement projects. The department is authorized to conduct any hearings it deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.
2. The commissioner shall issue a report to the governor, the members of the assembly and senate representing districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties, the Nassau and Suffolk county executives, and the Nassau and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05053-01-9
S. 1671 2
Suffolk county legislatures with detailed recommendations and findings within two years of the effective date of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after two years and six months after such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to a Southern State Parkway study; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to evaluate the configuration of entrance and exit ramps, and signage at entranceways and exits on the Southern State Parkway in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends the transportation law by adding a new section 23 that provides for a study to be conducted pertaining to the Southern State Parkway in Nassau and Suffolk counties which will determine whether adequate safety measures exist to prevent collisions and the instances of wrong way driving. The reports shall be issued within two years.
Section 2. is the enacting clause.
Justification
Numerous fatal accidents have occurred on the Southern State Parkway in Nassau and Suffolk counties due to outdated engineering and configura- tion of entrance and exit ramps and their corresponding signage. The design and construction of the Southern State Parkway began in 1926, with the first section of the parkway opening in 1927. The width, grade, and shoulder of entrance and exit ramps were designed at a time when fewer and smaller vehicles traveled at slower speeds, and are dangerous in the modern day.
The Southern State Parkway, a limited access highway, is one of Long Island's most heavily traveled roads. It begins in Elmont, Nassau Coun- ty, at an interchange with the Belt Parkway and Cross Island Parkway, and continues 25.53 miles east to an interchange with the Sagtikos State Parkway in West Islip, Suffolk County. Recently, a study by the New York State Department of Transportation found that the parkway has five out of ten of Long Island's most deadly driving spots.
To ensure the safety of all drivers and to save lives, it is imperative that the Department of Transportation address this issue by conducting a study to find solutions that update the antiquated design and configura- tion of signage and entrance and exit ramps on the Southern State Park- way.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after two years and six months after such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.