S2714

The New York State Senate passed legislation Tuesday expanding the state's Complete Streets Law to include road resurfacing, maintenance, and preservation projects, aiming to reduce traffic fatalities by ensuring pedestrian, cyclist, and other non-automobile accommodations in road design. Senate Print 2714, sponsored by Sen. Kennedy, passed 45-15 on a roll call vote. The bill extends protections enacted in 2011 to a broader range of infrastructure projects, with cost increases capped at 20 percent of project costs and exemptions for communities based on population density and need. Sen. Kennedy cited a nearly 20 percent increase in traffic fatalities nationwide in recent years and noted the bill has bipartisan support from safety organizations including the National Safety Council, AARP New York, and multiple bicycle advocacy groups. Opposition centered on concerns about costs to rural municipalities. Sen. Oberacker of Otsego County argued the bill could force counties to reduce paving miles, citing estimates of $50,000 per mile in additional costs for simple overlay projects and noting his county has 477 center lane miles to maintain. He proposed a carve-out for municipalities with populations under 500,000 but voted against the bill. Fifteen senators voted in opposition: Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, and Weber.

The Senate passed S2714, a bill to amend the Highway Law sponsored by Sen. Kennedy, on a 40-18 vote. The measure, which takes effect immediately, drew opposition from 18 senators, primarily Republicans including Sens. Borrello, Griffo, Lanza, Ortt, Stec and Tedisco. No floor debate was recorded on the bill before the roll call vote.