Bill Text: NY A02223 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Authorizes the commissioner of transportation to conduct a study regarding the feasibility of expanding freight railroad service within the state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - referred to transportation [A02223 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A02223-Introduced.html

---

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          2223
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    January 17, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Transportation
        AN ACT in relation to authorizing the commissioner of transportation  to
          conduct  a  study  regarding feasibility of expanding freight railroad
          service within the state
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.  The  commissioner  of  transportation  is  authorized and
     2  directed to conduct a  study  regarding  the  feasibility  of  expanding
     3  freight railroad service within the state. Such study shall focus on the
     4  costs  and  benefits  of  such  an expansion, and shall include, but not
     5  limited to:
     6    1. the economic impact of freight rail service  on  cities  and  other
     7  local municipalities;
     8    2.  the  environmental  impact  of  expanded freight railroad service,
     9  including but not limited to:
    10    a. the impact of noise on the  affected  environment  resulting  from,
    11  engine idling, whistle blowing and general train operation;
    12    b. the impact of engine emissions on air quality;
    13    c. the impact of such service on local ecosystems and habitats;
    14    3.  the  economic  impact of freight railroad service on other freight
    15  delivery carriers;
    16    4. the economic costs to repair and maintain expanded freight railroad
    17  service to make it a viable option for freight delivery as  compared  to
    18  other freight delivery carriers;
    19    5.  the  potential  to build additional intermodal railroad yards, and
    20  repair, expand and modernize existing intermodal railroad yards through-
    21  out the state to serve as hubs for the loading and unloading of freight;
    22    6. the availability of capital grants from the federal  government  to
    23  assist in funding such a project;
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07729-01-7
        A. 2223                             2
     1    7.  a general cost benefit analysis regarding the expansion of freight
     2  railroad service within the state; and
     3    8.  any  other  information  the  commissioner of transportation deems
     4  relevant.
     5    § 2. A report of the findings of such study and recommendations of the
     6  commissioner of transportation shall be delivered to the  governor,  the
     7  temporary  president  of  the  senate,  the speaker of the assembly, the
     8  minority leader of the senate and the minority leader  of  the  assembly
     9  within one year after the effective date of this act.
    10    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.