§ 83-A — Legislative commission on critical transportation choices

* § 83-a. Legislative commission on critical transportation choices.\n1. (a) The legislature hereby finds and declares that the economic and\nsocial well-being of the people of the state are inextricably linked to\nthe quality of the state's transportation services and that the delivery\nof that service has grown increasingly expensive for governmental\nagencies at all levels as well as for individuals and families in the\nstate.\n (b) Recent surveys of New York's transportation system indicate that\nportions of said system are badly in need of rehabilitation and\nimprovement and such surveys warn that the transportation infrastructure\nmay begin to deteriorate rapidly unless action is taken quickly to\nprevent such deterioration. The transportation systems serving the\nregions of the state can be characterized as contributing to or having\nfacilitated sprawling and inefficient land use patterns and as a result\nare also subject to severe dislocations or disruptions of fuel supplies\nin the future, which will affect appreciably the standard of living of\nall New York residents and call into question the ability to sustain the\nsystem in light of relatively new energy and environmental policy goals.\n 2. There is hereby created a legislative commission to be known as the\nlegislative commission on critical transportation choices. Such\ncommission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as follows:\nthree members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary\npresident of the senate; three members of the assembly shall be\nappointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members of the senate\nshall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members\nof the assembly shall be appointed by the minority leader of the\nassembly. From among the members as appointed, a chairman and vice\nchairman shall be appointed jointly by the temporary president of the\nsenate and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy that occurs in the\nchairmanship, vice chairmanship or other membership of the commission\nshall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was\nmade. No member, officer, or employee of the commission shall be\ndisqualified from holding any other public office or employment, nor\nshall he forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his\nappointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions of any general,\nspecial, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.\n 3. The commission hereby created shall have the power to: (a)\nrecommend a statewide plan of action to meet critical transportation\nneeds within the state; (b) assess the transportation needs of\nlocalities with respect to various modes of moving people and goods and\ntheir energy efficiency and environmental sustainability thereof; (c)\nevaluate probable impact of energy shortages on the ability to sustain\nthe various modes of transportation; (d) identify and study long-term\ntransportation needs under attenuated energy supplies and new\nenvironmental policy objectives; (e) assess impact of federal and state\nregulations on transportation systems; (f) evaluate the impact of public\nprojects on existing transportation networks; (g) study and assess the\nfuture of commercial and private air service and make recommendations\nfor the preservation and improvement of such service; (h) undertake\nresearch and develop proposals in connection with the development of\nports, free trade zones, transportation hubs and facilities related\nthereto; (i) undertake research and develop proposals in connection with\nsafety and safety related programs in the various transportation modes;\n(j) evaluate the short-term and long-term capital needs and operating\nassistance requirements of the state's public transit systems; (k)\nidentify and study potential revenue sources for the dedicated highway\nand bridge trust fund; (l) cooperate with local, state and federal\nofficials in the analysis of possible changes in rules, regulations and\nlaws relating to transportation; (m) assess the relationship between\ntransportation, the environment and long term, sustainable economic\ndevelopment; (n) research and evaluate proposals related to the federal,\nstate and local government organizational environment with respect to\nplanning, design and construction of transportation programs, projects\nand services; and (o) evaluate the transportation system in light of the\ncurrent social, economic and environmental regulatory climate including\nbut not limited to energy efficiency, air quality, quality communities\nor smart growth objectives, environmental justice, sustainability and\ncosts per household.\n 4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as\nit may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions\nand fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefore. The\ncommission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all\nof the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members\nof the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but\nshall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the\nperformance of their duties hereunder.\n 5. Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of\nthe legislature for all purposes.\n 6. The commission may request and shall receive from any subdivision,\ndepartment, board, bureau, commission, office, agency or other\ninstrumentality of the state or of any political subdivision thereof,\nsuch facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable\nfor the proper execution of its powers and duties.\n 7. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and sign\nany agreements, and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary,\ndesirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this\nsection.\n * NB Repealed June 30, 2026\n