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S7840Senate2019-2020 SessionSame asA9850

Create NYC Transit Authorities

Official title

“Establishes the Big Apple Transit Authority and the Commuter Transit Authority; repealer”

Sponsor Leroy ComrieSD-14Affects Transportation
Status
In Senate Committee
Transportation
Impact
10/10
Transformational
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Transportation

What's happening

This bill restructures New York's public transportation governance, establishing the Big Apple Transit Authority and Commuter Transportation Authority under municipal control, and repealing or amending various related provisions.

Why it matters

  1. Transfers control and accountability for New York City subways and certain commuter lines to new municipal authorities. the Big Apple Transit Authority (BAT) and the Commuter Transportation Authority (CTA)—potentially allowing for decisions more closely aligned with local priorities and needs.

  2. Reallocates financial responsibilities and funding streams. by establishing new mechanisms for revenue distribution, debt service, and surplus transfers between the new authorities and their affiliates, which could impact fare policies, capital projects, and operational investments.

  3. Restructures labor and employee protections during reorganization. , mandating the preservation of collective bargaining agreements, pensions, and civil service status for transferred employees, thereby aiming to maintain workforce stability during the transition.

  4. Centralizes local government oversight. by shifting certain approval powers (e.g., over capital projects and property decisions) from the state to the New York City Council and Mayor, increasing city government influence over transit planning, expenditures, and service changes.

  5. Limits the ability of the newly formed authorities to incur new debt. beyond that already authorized for the 2015-2019 capital plan, and caps administrative expenses, which could constrain rapid expansion or new initiatives in the near term, focusing instead on financial sustainability and oversight.

  6. Repeals and amends a broad array of existing statutes. governing the MTA and its subsidiaries, signaling a significant legal and structural break from the previous state-controlled system, with implications for ongoing projects, stakeholder relationships, and long-term strategic planning.

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Who cares

  • New York City mayor, borough presidents and public advocate

    The bill would give them appointments to the Big Apple Transit Authority board, shifting oversight of city transit and Triborough bridges and tunnels to a locally appointed authority.

  • Subway and bus riders

    The bill would place city transit under the Big Apple Transit Authority and require public speaking time at board and committee meetings and clear notices of proposed fare and service changes.

  • MTA employees and their unions

    The bill would require a personnel transfer plan for the new authorities while preserving collective bargaining rights, bargaining-unit membership and pension status for transferred employees.

  • MTA bondholders

    The bill would refocus the MTA on paying debt and fulfilling obligations to debt holders, with remaining funds generally split between the Big Apple Transit Authority and the Commuter Transportation Authority.

Headline styles

Create NYC Transit Authorities

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Leroy Comrie

Senator · Senate District 14

Chair, Corporations, Authorities And Commissions

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. 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.

A9850Assembly

Create NYC Transit Authority

In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Robert C. Carroll

Impact 10 · Transformational0% to pass

Full text

183 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

7840

IN SENATE

February 25, 2020

Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the public authorities law and the transportation law, in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority and the commuter transportation authority for the purpose of providing such authorities with municipal control over the New York… Show all

AN ACT to amend the public authorities law and the transportation law, in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority and the commuter transportation authority for the purpose of providing such authorities with municipal control over the New York city subway system; and to repeal certain provisions of the public authorities law relating thereto (Part A); to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority within the New York city transit authority (Part B); to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority; and to repeal subdivision 5 of section 553-k of the public authorities law relating thereto (Part C); to amend the public authorities law in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority (Part D); and to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the commuter transportation authority (Part E)

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. This act enacts into law major components of legislation which establish the Big Apple Transit Authority and the Commuter Transit Authority. Each component is wholly contained within a Part identified as Parts A through E. The effective date for each particular provision contained within such Part is set forth in the last section of such Part. Any provision in any section contained within a Part, including the effective date of the Part, which makes a reference to a section "of this act", when used in connection with that particular component, shall be deemed to mean and refer to the corresponding section of the Part in which it is found. Section three of this act sets forth the general effective date of this act.

PART A

Section 1. Section 1261 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 1 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, subdivision 18-a

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD15005-02-0

S. 7840 2

as amended by section 1 of part PP of chapter 58 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1261. Definitions. As used or referred to in this title, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

1. "Authority" shall mean the corporation created by section twelve hundred sixty-three of this title.

2. ["Authority facilities" shall mean the authority's railroad, omnibus, marine and aviation facilities and operations pursuant to joint service arrangements.

3.] "Budget" shall mean the preliminary, final proposed and adopted final plans of the authority, and each of its agencies.

[4.] 3. "Comptroller" shall mean the comptroller of the state of New York.

[5.] 4. "Equipment" shall mean rolling stock, omnibuses, vehicles, air, marine or surface craft, motors, boilers, engines, wires, ways, conduits and mechanisms, machinery, tools, implements, materials, supplies, instruments and devices of every nature whatsoever used or useful for transportation purposes or for the generation or transmission of motive power including but not limited to all power houses, and all apparatus and all devices for signalling, communications and ventilation as may be necessary, convenient or desirable for the operation of a transportation facility.

[6.] 5. "Federal government" shall mean the United States of America, and any officer, department, board, commission, bureau, division, corporation, agency or instrumentality thereof.

[7. "Gap" shall mean the difference between projected revenues and expenses for any given fiscal year based on the existing fare structure.

8. "Gap-closing initiative" shall mean any action to reduce a projected gap.

9.] 6. "Governor" shall mean the governor of the state of New York.

[10.] 7. "Joint service arrangements" shall mean agreements between or among the authority and any common carrier or freight forwarder, the state, any state agency, the federal government, any other state or agency or instrumentality thereof, any public authority of this or any other state, or any political subdivision or municipality of the state, relating to property, buildings, structures, facilities, services, rates, fares, classifications, divisions, allowances or charges (including charges between operators of railroad, omnibus, marine and aviation facilities), or rules or regulations pertaining thereto, for or in connection with or incidental to transportation in part in or upon railroad, omnibus, marine or aviation facilities located within the district and in part in or upon railroad, omnibus, marine or aviation facilities located outside the district.

[11.] 8. "Marine and aviation facilities" shall mean equipment and craft for the transportation of passengers, mail and cargo between points within the district or pursuant to joint service arrangements, by marine craft and aircraft of all types including but not limited to hydrofoils, ferries, lighters, tugs, barges, helicopters, amphibians, seaplanes or other contrivances now or hereafter used in navigation or movement on waterways or in the navigation of or flight in airspace. It shall also mean any marine port or airport facility within the transportation district but outside the port of New York district as defined in chapter one hundred fifty-four of the laws of nineteen hundred twentyone, including but not limited to terminals, docks, piers, bulkheads, ramps or any facility or real property necessary, convenient or desirable for the accommodation of passengers and cargo or the docking, sail-

S. 7840 3

ing, landing, taking off, accommodation or servicing of such marine craft or aircraft.

[12.] 9. "Omnibus facilities" shall mean motor vehicles, of the type operated by carriers subject to the jurisdiction of the public service commission, engaged in the transportation of passengers and their baggage, express and mail between points within the district or pursuant to joint service arrangements, and equipment, property, buildings, structures, improvements, loading or unloading areas, parking areas or other facilities, necessary, convenient or desirable for the accommodation of such motor vehicles or their passengers, including but not limited to buildings, structures and areas notwithstanding that portions may not be devoted to any omnibus purpose other than the production of revenues available for the costs and expenses of all or any facilities of the authority.

[13.] 10. "Railroad facilities" shall mean right of way and related trackage, rails, cars, locomotives, other rolling stock, signal, power, fuel, communication and ventilation systems, power plants, stations, terminals, storage yards, repair and maintenance shops, yards, equipment and parts, offices and other real estate or personalty used or held for or incidental to the operation, rehabilitation or improvement of any railroad operating or to operate between points within the district or pursuant to joint service arrangements, including but not limited to buildings, structures, and areas notwithstanding that portions thereof may not be devoted to any railroad purpose other than the production of revenues available for the costs and expenses of all or any facilities of the authority.

[14.] 11. "Real property" shall mean lands, structures, franchises and interests in land, waters, lands under water, riparian rights and air rights and any and all things and rights included within said term and includes not only fees simple absolute but also any and all lesser interests including but not limited to easements, rights of way, uses, leases, licenses and all other incorporeal hereditaments and every estate, interest or right, legal or equitable, including terms for years and liens thereon by way of judgments, mortgages or otherwise.

[15.] 12. "State" shall mean the state of New York.

[16.] 13. "State agency" shall mean any officer, department, board, commissioner, bureau, division, public benefit corporation, agency or instrumentality of the state.

[17.] 14. "Transportation facility" shall mean any transit, railroad, omnibus, marine or aviation facility and any person, firm, partnership, association or, corporation which owns, leases or operates any such facility or any other facility used for service in the transportation of passengers, United States mail or personal property as a common carrier for hire and any portion thereof and the rights, leaseholds or other interest therein together with routes, tracks, extensions, connections, parking lots, garages, warehouses, yards, storage yards, maintenance and repair shops, terminals, stations and other related facilities thereof, the devices, appurtenances, and equipment thereof and power plants and other instrumentalities used or useful therefor or in connection therewith.

[18.] 15. "Transportation district" and "district" shall mean the metropolitan commuter transportation district created by section twelve hundred sixty-two of this title.

[18-a.] 16. "Transportation purpose" shall mean a purpose that directly supports the missions or purposes of the authority, any of its subsidiaries, New York city transit authority or its subsidiary, includ-

S. 7840 4

ing the realization of revenues derived from property that is, or is to be used as, a transportation facility.

[19.] 17. "New York city transit authority" shall mean the corporation created by section twelve hundred one of this chapter.

[20.] 18. "Triborough bridge and tunnel authority" shall mean the corporation created by section five hundred fifty-two of this chapter.

[21.] 19. "Inspector general" shall mean the metropolitan transportation authority inspector general.

[22. "Revenues." All] 20. "Revenues" shall mean all monies received by the authority or its subsidiaries, or New York city transit authority or its subsidiaries, or Triborough bridge and tunnel authority, as the case may be, from whatever source, derived directly or indirectly from or in connection with the operations of the respective entity.

[23. "Transit facility." Transit facility as defined in subdivision fifteen of section twelve hundred of this article.

24. "Utilization" shall mean public usage of the subway, bus, railroad and paratransit services, and bridge and tunnel crossings, of the authority and its affiliates and subsidiaries as reflected in empirical data.]

21. "Big apple transit authority" shall mean the corporation created by section thirteen hundred forty-nine-c of this article.

22. "Big apple transit authority and its affiliates" shall mean the big apple transit authority, the New York city transit authority, the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority, and all their respective subsidiaries.

23. "Commuter transportation authority" shall mean the corporation created by section thirteen hundred forty-nine-cccc of this chapter.

§ 2. Section 1262 of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 669 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:

§ 1262. Metropolitan commuter transportation district. There is hereby created and established a commuter transportation district to be known as the metropolitan commuter transportation district which shall embrace the city of New York and the counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester, provided, however, that the district shall not include a county that has withdrawn from the district pursuant to section [twelve] thirteen hundred [seventy-nine-b] fortynine-wwwww of this article.

§ 3. Paragraph (a-1) of subdivision 1 and subdivision 9 of section 1263 of the public authorities law are REPEALED.

§ 4. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 1263 of the public authorities law is REPEALED, and paragraphs (c) and (d) of subdivision 4, paragraph (c) as added by chapter 247 of the laws of 1990, and paragraph (d) as added by section 5 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, are amended to read as follows:

[(c)] (b) The chairman shall ensure that at every meeting of the board and at every meeting of each committee the public shall be allotted a period of time, not less than thirty minutes, to speak on any topic on the agenda.

[(d)] (c) Notwithstanding paragraph [(c)] (b) of subdivision one of section twenty-eight hundred twenty-four of this chapter or any other provision of law to the contrary, the chairman shall not participate in establishing authority policies regarding the payment of salary, compensation and reimbursement to, nor establish rules for the time and attendance of, the chief executive officer. The salary of the chairman, as determined pursuant to subdivision two of this section, shall also be compensation for all services performed as chief executive officer.

S. 7840 5

§ 5. Subdivision 1 of section 1264 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 2 of subpart B of part ZZZ of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:

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 and the transportation law, in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority and the commuter transportation authority for the purpose of providing such authorities with municipal control over the New York city subway system; and to repeal certain provisions of the public authorities law relating thereto (Part A); to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority within the New York city transit authority (Part B); to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority; and to repeal subdivision 5 of section 553-k of the public authorities law relating thereto (Part C); to amend the public authorities law in relation to establishing the big apple transit authority (Part D); and to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing the commuter trans- portation authority (Part E)

Purpose

To establish municipal control of New York City's subways and buses.

Summary of provisions

To establish municipal control of the transit systems in New York City through the creation of a new authority, the Big Apple Transit authority (BAT), which will supplant the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as the umbrella authority managing the transit systems within the City. Both the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) and the Tribor- ough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) would be under the new BAT authority. A separate authority, the Commuter Transportation Authority (CTA), will be created to manage the commuter rails and other regional transportation concerns previously handled by the MTA.

Justification

New York City's subway and buses are part of the MTA, a public benefit corporation that is responsible for developing and implementing a unified mass transit policy for New York City and the seven New York metropolitan-area counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rock- land, Suffolk, and Westchester.

As a public benefit corporation, the MTA functions as a quasi-private corporation with broad powers, including the ability to issue bonds and take on debt, enter into contracts and leases, create its own by-laws, and appoint officers and employees. In addition, the MTA has power to acquire transportation facilities within the commuter district, levy tolls and fares, and "may do all things it deems necessary, convenient or desirable to manage, control and direct the maintenance and operation of" its transportation facilities." Local governments are explicitly prohibited, from exercising jurisdiction over transportation facilities or their activities and operations.

By expressly constraining the ability of New York City over the MTA's work within its borders, New York City residents lose a direct lever to determine the direction and priorities of their transit system. Rather than having direct line between the ballot box and the subways, the electoral power is muddied by the structuring the system as part of a larger regional body. While regional transit governance does have its advantages, it also runs the risk of diffusing political will. If the powers that control the system have differing political perspectives, political paralysis, lack of clear agenda, and finger pointing can easi- ly result. The MTA's governing structure, has led to this very result.

New York City transit system must responsive to the residents it serves. The best way to do this is restore municipal control over the mass tran- sit facilities and their operations in the five boroughs. The City should regain control over its mass transit facilities and their oper- ations.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Effective date

This act shall take effect January 1, 2021.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.