Free transit for seniors in NY State - bill introduced

S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K

________________________________________________________________

323

2009-2010 Regular Sessions

I N A S S E M B L Y

(PREFILED)

January 7, 2009

___________

Introduced by M. of A. PERALTA, WALKER, GREENE -- Multi-Sponsored by --

M. of A. COOK, DIAZ, ESPAILLAT, FINCH, O'DONNELL, ORTIZ, J. RIVERA,

TOWNS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to providing free

public transportation for senior citizens

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-

BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1 Section 1. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section

2 15-d to read as follows:

3 S 15-D. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. SENIOR CITIZENS

4 SHALL RECEIVE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FREE OF CHARGE.

5 S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after

6 it shall have become a law, provided, however, that the commissioner of

7 transportation shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary for

8 the implementation of this act on or before such effective date.

http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A323
Peralta for State Senate

Want jobs? Fund mass transit

If we’d spent as much federal stimulus money on public transportation as we spent on highways, we would have created twice as much work and put a bigger dent in the unemployment rate. Read more at Wired

Red state shows yankees how its done

 CAT ridership skyrocketing in Oconee County
... During its inaugural fiscal year in 1996, which consisted of only six months because of its late startup date, there were 173,917 passengers who used the CAT system.
However, that number jumped in subsequent years and, during the 2002-03 fiscal year, CAT achieved a milestone when Janice Young, at the time a senior Clemson University special education major and Six Mile resident, became the millionth rider to board the transit system.
Babinicz said CAT’s fare-free transit system, which is funded through state, federal and local dollars, has provided tremendous dividends to the city that can be measured in more ways than just bus service.
“The part we didn’t anticipate completely when we started was that everyone benefits from CAT — even if they never use it,” he said. “Studies are beginning to show across the country that transit eases congestion, reduces air pollution, saves energy and spurs economic development and job creation, increases real estate values and improves the quality of life for riders and non-riders....” upstatetoday