2023 New York Laws › LEG - Legislative › Article 5-A - Legislative Commissions › 83-A - Legislative Commission on Critical Transportation Choices.

* § 83-a. Legislative  commission  on critical transportation choices.
1.  (a) The legislature hereby finds and declares that the economic  and
social  well-being of the people of the state are inextricably linked to
the quality of the state's transportation services and that the delivery
of that  service  has  grown  increasingly  expensive  for  governmental
agencies  at  all  levels as well as for individuals and families in the
state.
(b) Recent surveys of New York's transportation system  indicate  that
portions  of  said  system  are  badly  in  need  of  rehabilitation and
improvement and such surveys warn that the transportation infrastructure
may begin to deteriorate rapidly  unless  action  is  taken  quickly  to
prevent  such  deterioration.  The  transportation  systems  serving the
regions of the state can be characterized as contributing to  or  having
facilitated  sprawling and inefficient land use patterns and as a result
are also subject to severe dislocations or disruptions of fuel  supplies
in  the  future, which will affect appreciably the standard of living of
all New York residents and call into question the ability to sustain the
system in light of relatively new energy and environmental policy goals.
2. There is hereby created a legislative commission to be known as the
legislative  commission  on  critical   transportation   choices.   Such
commission  shall  consist  of  ten  members to be appointed as follows:
three members  of  the  senate  shall  be  appointed  by  the  temporary
president  of  the  senate;  three  members  of  the  assembly  shall be
appointed by the speaker of the assembly;  two  members  of  the  senate
shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members
of  the  assembly  shall  be  appointed  by  the  minority leader of the
assembly. From among the members  as  appointed,  a  chairman  and  vice
chairman  shall  be  appointed jointly by the temporary president of the
senate and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy that occurs  in  the
chairmanship,  vice  chairmanship  or other membership of the commission
shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was
made. No member,  officer,  or  employee  of  the  commission  shall  be
disqualified  from  holding  any  other public office or employment, nor
shall he forfeit  any  such  office  or  employment  by  reason  of  his
appointment  hereunder,  notwithstanding  the provisions of any general,
special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.
3. The  commission  hereby  created  shall  have  the  power  to:  (a)
recommend  a  statewide  plan  of action to meet critical transportation
needs  within  the  state;  (b)  assess  the  transportation  needs   of
localities  with respect to various modes of moving people and goods and
their energy efficiency and environmental  sustainability  thereof;  (c)
evaluate  probable  impact of energy shortages on the ability to sustain
the various modes of transportation; (d) identify  and  study  long-term
transportation   needs   under   attenuated   energy  supplies  and  new
environmental policy objectives; (e) assess impact of federal and  state
regulations on transportation systems; (f) evaluate the impact of public
projects  on  existing transportation networks; (g) study and assess the
future of commercial and private air service  and  make  recommendations
for  the  preservation  and  improvement  of such service; (h) undertake
research and develop proposals in connection  with  the  development  of
ports,  free  trade  zones,  transportation  hubs and facilities related
thereto; (i) undertake research and develop proposals in connection with
safety and safety related programs in the various transportation  modes;
(j)  evaluate  the  short-term and long-term capital needs and operating
assistance requirements of  the  state's  public  transit  systems;  (k)
identify  and  study potential revenue sources for the dedicated highway
and bridge trust fund; (l)  cooperate  with  local,  state  and  federal
officials  in the analysis of possible changes in rules, regulations and

laws relating to transportation; (m)  assess  the  relationship  between
transportation,  the  environment  and  long  term, sustainable economic
development; (n) research and evaluate proposals related to the federal,
state  and  local  government organizational environment with respect to
planning, design and construction of transportation  programs,  projects
and services; and (o) evaluate the transportation system in light of the
current  social, economic and environmental regulatory climate including
but not limited to energy efficiency, air quality,  quality  communities
or  smart  growth  objectives, environmental justice, sustainability and
costs per household.
4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel  as
it  may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions
and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefore. The
commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise  have  all
of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members
of  the  commission shall receive no compensation for their services but
shall be allowed their actual and necessary  expenses  incurred  in  the
performance of their duties hereunder.
5.  Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of
the legislature for all purposes.
6. The commission may request and shall receive from any  subdivision,
department,   board,   bureau,   commission,  office,  agency  or  other
instrumentality of the state or of any  political  subdivision  thereof,
such  facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable
for the proper execution of its powers and duties.
7. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and  sign
any  agreements,  and  to do and perform any acts that may be necessary,
desirable or proper to carry out the purposes  and  objectives  of  this
section.
* NB Repealed June 30, 2025