HomeMy WebLinkAboutPeconic Bay Transportation CouncilSOUTHOLD TI~ ANSF'OI~q'ATION
COMMISSION
[ Town Hall
53095 Main Road
[ Southold, NY 11971-0959
[ Phone (631) 765-1938
I Fax(631) 765 3136
R~CEIVED
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
Supervisor Scott A. Russell
Town Board
Ncbo~sha R. Brashich, Chairman ~,~ ~, ~.,~v~
P~Ca~7~2~ Transportati°n C°uncili
Thc Commission reviewed twice thc proposed Assembly Bill 1735 and the Home Rule
Request for the creation of the Peeonic Bay Transportation Council as submitted by
Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr.
Following this review, the Commission continues to have reservations on certain items.
Namely, the Bill calls for the preparation and adoption of a transportation action plan for
the Peconic Bay region. Among others, the Plan calls for consideration of land use
regulations to foster the transportation goals of the region. This could potentially pit one
town against another on the East End and goes beyond what was a non-binding process
agreed to under the SEEDS initiative. The Plan forbids any recommendations with regard
to vehicle ferries in the region. We find this totally unacceptable if the action plan is to be
meaningful at all. Finally, the Plan calls for a capital plan and an implementation budget
with no funding being made available for the preparation of the action plan save some
vague reference to state and county support from existing operations.
The Commission recommends that the Town Board invite Assemblyman Thiele to
discuss the potential impact of this legislation on Southold prior to passing a resolution of
support for the Home Rule Request.
FRED W. THIELE, JR.
Assembiyman ~.o Dbt~t
Elizabeth Neville
Southold Town Clerk
Town Hall, Main Road
P.O. Box 1179
Southold, NY 11971
Dear Ms. Neville:
THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY
January 24, 2006
2 2
ViCE-CHAIRMAN
Joint Coherence Col3'~miltee
RANKING MINORITY IMEMSER
Education C~rmlffee
CoMarl-rEES
Wa~ and Mean~
Environmental Co~eervallofl
Hou~ng
RECEIV~I~
Southoid T w. Cle
Please find enclosed, a copy of Aasemhly Bill 1735, as well as four Home Rule Request
forms. This legislation would create the Pecunic Bay Transportation CoUncil.
The New York State Legislature is prohibited from passing any legialation that. affocta the
property, affa~ and government, of a specific local governmeat, or a number of specific local
governments, unless the State iLegislature has received a request to pass the legislation from the
local government(s) involved. This request is known as a Home Rule Request.
On a local level, two-thirds of a legislative body are needed to pass a resolution
requesting that the State Legislature pass the bill. Complete instructions of the Home Rule
Procedure are on the back of the blue forms. All four forms should be completed, two for the
Senate and two for the Assembly.
Please forward the two Assembly forms to the Office of the Home Rule Counsel, Room
448M, the Capitol, Albany, NY, 12248. The two Senate forms should be sent to Office of the
Home Rule Counsel, Room $17, the Capitol, Albany, NY 12247.
Office.
FWT/slh
If you have any questions about this legislative procedure, please contact my Albany
Fred ~W. Thie~e,}r.
Member of A~ss~mbly
ALBANY OFFICE: Room 443, Legislative Olfice Building, Albany, New York 12248 ,, (518) 455-5997, FAX (518) 455-5963
DISTRICT OFFICE: 2302 Main Street, P.O, Box 3062, Bridgehampton, New York 11932 · (631) 537-2583, FAX (631) 537-2836
E-mail Address; thielef@assembly,$tate,n¥.us
STATE OF NEW YORK
1735
2007-2008 Regular Bessions
'IN ASSEMBLY
~anuary 10, 2007
Introduced by M. o£ &. THZBLB, ii, SS! -- read once and re£erred to the
Coanaittee on Local Govermaants
~-~ACT to amend'the ganeraZ muntcil~l law, in relation to creating the
Peco~ta Ba~ regional trans~ortation council
The P~o~la.of hIlm Brats of New York. ~u~aanted in S~nate and
1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legtslatu~e hereby finds that
2 over the past thirtyYears, rapid growth and development*in the Peconio
3 Bay region of L~ng Island, while providing for a successful balance o£
4 economic opportunity and environmental protection, has also resulted in
5 same unavoi~able, adverse impacts. ~hat threaten the region.s future
$ qualit~ of life and future economic prosperity. Traf£ic Congestion has
7 been~ne of the pr~r~ adverse impacts from such rapid develol~aent.
8 banding traf£1c congestion has resulted in deteriorating traf£1c
.9 sa£etM with increased traffic accidents and fatalities. In addition,
10 tra££ic congestion, has resulted in increased trip delays, declining air
1! quality, adverse AmP. acts to historic and ru~ai resources in the region.s
12 villages and hamlets, parking problems, adverse impacts to residential
13 com~nities and neighborhoods resulting from the diversion of traffic
14 from ma~or highways and arteries to rural residential streets and roads.
15 The region's tourist and second home industries, the cornerstone of
15 its prosperity, are threatened if the adverse consequences of traffic
17 congestion are not promptly and adequately addressed. Further, pro~ec-
18 tions from the state department of transportation and local governments
19 indicate that there will be a continued growth in year-round population,
20 seasonal residents, and traffic into the foreseeable future, exacerbat-
21 lng an already ma~or problem.
22 The legislature finds that the unique geography of the Peconic Bay
23 region limits the ability to expand highway capacity for motor vehicles.
24 The narrow forks limit the augmentation of future highway capacity in an
25 east-west direction. The construction of nWwhighways is not a feasible
EXPLANATION--Matter in ~ (underscored) is new~ matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05620-01-7
I alternative~ and the option of improving capacity on existing highways
2 is limited. In addition, to unique geography, t,~_acts to the region,s
3 n&tural and historic resources, such as open space, £armlend, watershe~
4 areas, wetlands, and historic sites and landmarks also limit increasing
5 highway o~paoity.
6 Nhtle I~e regian"e highway infrastructure is severely overburdened,
7 its lmblio transit capabilities are underdeveloped. The region possesses
8 underutilized rail . capacity with minimal service fro~ the Long Island
9 Rail ~ad to the region.
10 The legislature fidd~ that the development of new public transit
11 opportunities for the Peconic Bay regiun represents the best alternative
13 to a~ress growing traffic congestion and other transportation problem.
13 The region possesses an existing rail infrastructure. Existing service
14 to the regi~ ia mistral. Further, there is no coordin~tion between rail
15 service ~dexistingbus service. The opportU~ity to t~rove service is
16 clearly available.
17 The reqian,s local governments have rec~nize~ the adverse impacts
1~ resultin~ frca 9rowinq tra£fio congestlo~ and the need to ex~lore other
19 bra-m~ortation ogtions such aa' public transit. Xndepe~dently, the
20 oce~rehe~sive plans o£ the region's towns and villages have cited tra~-
31 fao cce~eation as a critAcal problem and have identified la. roved public
33 trassit as a futura goal. Towns have created task £orcenandco~ianio~s
39 to sddxess the tr~-=portntion issue.
24 Further, collectively, as a region, the lo~1 governments have joined
25 together to e~lore public . transit options, to mitigate tra£fio
26 ~n~e~tian. As early aa 1994, the East ~n~ EconcmuLo and Enviro~mental
37 Institute, under tho auspices o£ the F~st End Mayors and supervisors
38 A~sooiationAeaued a report anti%ledBlue Print for Our Puture wb/ch
29 celled for ~mprov~ and coord~nate~ bus ~nd fail'service in the Peconic
~9 Bay XegAan. : - . .
31 Iii 309~ after a four.-year public Outraach pro~eaa, the local, g~ve~n-
33 meets,of.the region issued the result of its s~8 (Sustain~bleEaStEnd
3~ Development) pro]act. This initiative else racogn~se~ the need 'to 'create
34 ~z~ve~ tr%--portation opport~ltiee, includingselected road
35 ~ts and inc~eanedand coordinated public
36 .~heprivetm Bettor has also rocor=teed tho need for le~roved regional
37 trsuspor~ation opportunities. The Institute for sustah~abla Development,
39 Santb~m~.bon College of ~ong Ieland University, held a conferencean~
39 issued a report calling 'for improved transportation opportunities in the
40 region. Five Town Rural Tranait~,Inc.~ a private, not-for-profit
41 fabian, Of Co~emunity leaders has also recognized the need for public
42 transi~ improvements. In 2005, they unveiled a conceptual plan for an
43 East End Shuttle providing coordinated bus and rail serVice, and issued
&4 a development proposal to further that goal.
45 In aum~ary, the problem of traffic congestion with its adverse impacts
46 on the local enviro~mant, economy, and quality of life has'long been
47 recognized. Further, a multitude of local governments, regional cooper-
48 afire initiatives, and private initiative have all identified improved
49 public transit with increased and coordinated rail and bus service as
50 the cornerstone for solving the problem, The concept has been at the
51 center of public policy discussions for more ~han a decade.
~2 The next step is the full development of these concepts to provide a
$$ proposal that is feasible and workable, before implementation of new
~4 transit opportunities can occur.
55 Currently, no governmental entity exists which can coordinate the
56 multitude of local goverl~ments, state government, federal government,
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1735
and other stakeholders that must participate to insure the creation' end
establishment of a succassfulpublic trens!tinitiative for the Peconic
Bey region.
It is the intent of the legislature with this act to provide ~he
aecessary governmental framework end resources that will. foster the
cooperation necessary to develop a public transit proposal for the
Pe¢onic Bay region. This legislation.will give the local governments
the regional framework to p~rsue th/s initiative, end will man~ate the
cooperation of st,Ate end federal agencies necessary to create a public
transit proposal'qspable of being i~plemented. Further, it will provide
for the involvement o£ all stakeholders end co~aunity members ~n the
develol~ment process to insure en open and co~prehensive decision making
process.
The framework craate~ by th~e legislation wi11 not only prov~de the
mechanism to evaluate public transit opportunities for the Peoonio
region but to also foster the cooperation and consensus neaessary to
h~le~ent tho lend use and other transportation i~rovemonts
to the future welfare of the Peocmic Bay region.
S 2. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new article 5-L
to read as follows:
P~ONICBAYRL~ION~LT~a~__D~i~TON~T~.
119-bbb, l~eg~i~ Bay re~t~l trJ-o-~tetio~ council.
119-~dd. Aaen~v
119-eee. Pre~ara~ and adoption o~ the transPort&rich
11E-faf[ guhn{eeion to ~he leaieletur~.
~ 119-aaa. Definitions. AS -~Ja in this arbicle~
Shelter Ialan~. ~O~l~halm~ton: and ~l~d in the -~ln~V of Suffolk.'
2~.eCountv= means the oountv of
3. aMtmieinal o~z~oration· m~*.o a town or villaae in the P~nio Bev
~.. nB~eta· mean~ the stats'of New York.
bureau, divieio~, au~oritv, Dttblic b~n~it cornoratl~m, aaenav
instrumentality of the
tion of nublic transportation Dro4ec~e reauired to be adopted,
8. ,Counoil~ means hhe council created pursuant to section one
nineteen-bbb of th~s article,
~ ll9-bbb. Peconic Bev re=ional transportation council. ~. There
cotmcll shall consist of twenty votina m~m~ers~ one m~m~r to
annointed by the aovernor who will serve at the nleasure of the sever-
nor. and fourteen ex.,Officio ~ers who ar~ the county executive of ~.
county of Suffolk, the five town sunervisors from the P~-tc Bay
reaion, two villaae mayors to be aDnointed by the East EndVillaaa Offi
cials Association, the United States conares~- reDresentin= the Pecom
lc Bay reaion, the state senator reDresentin~ the Peconic Bay reaion.
A. 1735 4
1 the two state 0s~amblv members renresentino the Poconi~
2 the two county laaislators re~rssentino the Peconio Bay reason, and five
$ citizen .ambers with an interest in transuortation and ~ublic transit to
4 bO --~int~d by the town~srd of each town in the Peconic Bay. reoion.
m~4.2 a dasionatad representative, by official authority filed with
7 th& n~metl, to m~rcime his or her uowers and oerfora him or her.
hhs --~a~ of any u Ow er or function of the council. An affirmative
~h&~wiS& o--~cise any functiflne or~vers of the council.
14 ! llg-cac. Smears od ~l~Ae of the c()~,ln, c~l. ~lha council shall have
17 2. ~'cJ'aae~hlieh a citizen add'sew _~umu~ttes. to assist it vith its
duties an~ rammcn~ibilitiem~
30 duties and riaucnmibtlities~
4. ~onroemea and adopt a'DlAn, az provided' for ~ macti~ one hundred
~4n&~fm~-aeq of th{s article, with the advice of the advisory 'oomd. t-
3& S. T~ .k414.~ to the extent uracticablar the state end ,facilities' of
~r~etimm state and local
S. ?o u mtn and ~-~ute contracts end all other instruments neoessar~
37 or ~c~v~nient for the ~cise of its uowers and duties und8~ this
clam
7. ~o sue and he sued!
30 O. ~ a~uoint an executive officer, of£icers, scents, emulovees, and
31' uras~[be thairdutlus and~uall£ionti~!
32 9. ~o hold h~s~4nes in the ~nroise of its uowers, functions, and
33 duties :as provided for by this article~
34 10. To ~neFact for urofasst~l and t~J~nioal assistance and advioe~
3S ~.. To ~traot for and accent al~v assistanca.'includinc but not
~ 4n~ted to ciera, or. antes, or loans .of £unde. or of uro~ertv from the
37 f~e~al cover~m~2 or anY aoen~v or instrumentality-thereof, or env
state acenc~, or ~Fom any o~h~r Public or Drivers source and to ComPly.
39 su~eot,to the Drovis{~n, of this article, with the terms en~ conditions
¢0 ~
41 ! llg-ddd. Aoencv cooperation. 1. Every state acencv cheil offer full
42 cooDeretio~ to the counoil in carrvino out the DrovisicuS of this
43 cle.
44 2. ~verv acencv of the county and the municinal ccrDoratlone shall
offer full cooperation to the council incarrvino out the provisions of
47 S119-eee. Preparation and adontion of the transportation action Dian.
48 1. Th~ council ia hereby directed to prepare a transeortatlon action
49 D1~1 for the Peconic Bay reoion.
50 ~uch ulan shall be prepared in two nhases.
51 2. Phase one shall consider the followinc a~ternetives=
52 a. EstaBlishment of shuttle traino utilizin~ the exietino rioht of way
$3 of the LOn~ Island Rail Road~
54 b. Es~abliehment and coordination ~f bus transportation to complement
shuttle tr&ins!
A. 1735 5
1 c. A reaional transoorta~!~m au~h~ity, transportation
extatin0 state and local aOver~m~-tal aoenotea to orovide
3 tzans~ortatton services.
l.. phase tvo Ahsll consider, but not be limited to. the folieat--
$ e. istablishaant of mark and rail faeilttiee!
7 b. &dditi'ea o£ ~ore no,-stoa'train, from N~vYork city to the
11 d. I~rov~ents to exis~4~ hiahvav intrastrudture, to
15 ['. ~ike' l~ns~ and oathe, '
16 ~. Water .taxi and ~aer
.19 'Z~Zlit the relevant U~a~n--tal ~,,~h~.i~i~s to
22 4,M~ · . ' -
24 £~i~s in ~ ~to ~ rM4~ 2- --
~6 ratine. . .' ' ·
~8 tv~irsh. ~ ~h~,ms~ ~nhtt'
32 a~zov~
34 bed to .
35 BaY r~i~ at the O~ ~!~J~ tO ~ h~l~ in ~ t~ *~s[-='
39 12. The draft o£ ~hAaa. two Of ~he Dl~3~ --hAll be e~....~letad
40 thirty-first, tvo t~OuSan~
41 13. At ianst five ~ublia h-A-Leas, ma in ea~ ~ in the p4,~i~
42 reaion, shall be ~ld ~ the ~att ct nhs,e t~ of the.ol~
43 14. ~e' final version of ~hase b~ of ~e ol~ ahs~ be collated
44 a~roved by,the co,oil by ~1~ th'iffy-first, t~ thread
45 15. Phase 2~ of th~ ~l~,as a~ved by the oo-n~41, shall be
47 Bay reaim at the a~eral election to be h~A tn R~er t~ thou~a~
nine. ~eh fefer~dm =~s~ be de,ed aDDrove~ if it is ~oved
49 matoritv ct ~he voters ~tlno on such re/ermd~ tn eaoh ~o~ in
50 ~
51 ] llg-fff. ~mtssion to the leaislature. ~on annroval of the
52 referral, su~ aDDr~ed tr~sDortation aotion Di~ a~all be
53 to the leolslature by the c~cil no later eha~ thirty days after
55 ~ 3. ~is act shall take affect i~ediately.
~) PRINTEO ON RECYCLED PAPER