§ 73-b. Legislative findings and purposes. The legislature hereby\nfinds, determines, and declares that:\n 1. the inability of persons in rural areas to access public or private\ntransportation services often is detrimental to the public health,\nsafety and general welfare because such persons are thereby unable to\nreceive regular medical care and public services, do shopping,\nparticipate in specialized recreation and education programs, and obtain\nemployment;\n 2. the number and proportion of persons without access to essential\ntransportation services in rural environs is alarmingly high and could\nincrease in the future, thereby further increasing the demand for\nspecialized transportation services in said areas;\n 3. added social burdens frequently fall upon state and local\ngo
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§ 73-b. Legislative findings and purposes. The legislature hereby\nfinds, determines, and declares that:\n 1. the inability of persons in rural areas to access public or private\ntransportation services often is detrimental to the public health,\nsafety and general welfare because such persons are thereby unable to\nreceive regular medical care and public services, do shopping,\nparticipate in specialized recreation and education programs, and obtain\nemployment;\n 2. the number and proportion of persons without access to essential\ntransportation services in rural environs is alarmingly high and could\nincrease in the future, thereby further increasing the demand for\nspecialized transportation services in said areas;\n 3. added social burdens frequently fall upon state and local\ngovernments because of involuntary isolation of individuals and families\nin rural areas who are unable to obtain employment, public services,\nhealth care, educational or other essential human services;\n 4. lack of a comprehensive state policy to promote the development of\ncoordinated public transportation services in the state's rural regions\nhas inhibited the formation of such services, thereby contributing to a\ngreat disparity in the nature and levels of transportation services\navailable in said rural areas and the inefficient use of many existing\ntransportation resources;\n 5. such unique rural conditions as low population density, limitations\nof size and resources and the general absence of private common carriers\ncall for more innovation and flexibility in the development of\ncoordinated public transportation services in rural environs, which\nwould include more intensive use of existing transportation services\nthat may now service a single clientele and are frequently\nunderutilized;\n 6. existing federal, state and local public transportation assistance\nprograms are of vital importance in providing mobility to persons in\nrural areas of New York state, and increased coordination and more\nintensive use of such programs would or could increase the\ncost-effectiveness of these programs and enhance the availability of\ntransportation services to those individuals and families in need; and\n 7. the establishment of a rural public transportation coordination\nassistance program would or could increase the mobility of individuals\nand families in the state's rural regions and make available to those in\nneed more of the limited transportation resources that now exist.\n 8. the establishment of a rural transportation coordination assistance\nprogram is intended to be in addition to existing programs and services\nrequired of the department of transportation and this act shall in no\nmanner or means detract from the other services, resources and programs\nnow provided by such department.\n