Reinvent Albany Urges Hochul to VETO Appalling Carve-Out for Motorists
TITLE OF BILL
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to bus operation-related traffic regulations.
STATEMENT OF OPPOSITION
Reinvent Albany strongly opposes this bill because it arbitrarily exempts a group of motorists from a societally beneficial law solely because of where they live. This carve-out is unfair to other motorists and bus riders and is not justified by the facts presented by its proponents.
Importantly, this bill would deprive bus riders in Co-op City of the faster bus service fostered by automated bus lane enforcement. If the bill’s proponents are concerned about the siting of bus lanes, they should work with their elected officials, the NYC DOT, and the MTA to find appropriate solutions. Establishing a non-enforcement zone for bus lane violations based on parochial political concerns is unwise interference by the Legislature in local street and transit planning.
We urge the Governor to VETO this legislation.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS
Section 1 amends Vehicle and Traffic Law §1111-c-1(d)(3) to exempt bus lane enforcement on roadways in Mitchell-Lama co-ops with at least 10,000 units.
Section 2 states that the bill takes effect 90 days after becoming law.