New York S 525: Relates to the metropolitan commuter transportation authority establishing and implementing a vegetation management policy

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S00525 Summary:

BILL NOS00525 

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SAME ASSAME AS A02609

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SPONSORMAYER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §1266, Pub Auth L

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Relates to the metropolitan commuter transportation authority establishing and implementing a policy for responsible management of vegetation and other activities that impact neighboring properties in order to preserve the safety and efficiency of commuter rail operations by implementing guidelines for removal and management policies.

Go to top S00525 Actions:

BILL NOS00525 

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

Go to topS00525 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00525 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00525 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 525

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

 AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the metropol-
 itan commuter transportation authority establishing and implementing a
 vegetation management policy

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by
 2 adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
 3 20. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or the terms of any
 4 contract, the authority, in consultation with the Long Island Rail Road
 5 and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, shall establish and
 6 implement a policy for responsible management of vegetation and other
 7 activities that impact neighboring properties to outline policies and
 8 goals for the management of vegetation and other activities that impact
 9 neighboring properties under the control of such commuter rail compa-
 10 nies. The purpose of such policy is to detail commuter rail management
 11 practices with respect to vegetation management actions and other
 12 actions that impact neighboring properties, and coordination and commu-
 13 nication regarding such actions with local governments and neighborhoods
 14 near commuter rail properties in furtherance of the safety and efficien-
 15 cy of commuter rail operations. Such policy shall:
 16 (a) be consistent with existing regulations promulgated by the Federal
 17 Railroad Administration or any other federal laws, rules or regulations
 18 governing vegetation management or other activities that impact neigh-
 19 boring properties by a commuter rail company;
 20 (b) include guidelines for communication with local governments and
 21 property owners neighboring commuter rail properties that would be
 22 impacted by vegetation management actions and other actions that impact
 23 neighboring property;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01394-01-5

 S. 525 2

 1 (c) be consistent with safety and efficiency requirements of the
 2 commuter rail lines;
 3 (d) provide guidance that such actions consider the impact on neigh-
 4 boring properties and communities and include a goal of minimizing nega-
 5 tive impacts where possible;
 6 (e) provide that vegetation removal and management policies should
 7 consider the impact on neighboring properties consistent with the opera-
 8 tional responsibilities of the commuter rail lines;
 9 (f) provide for meaningful prior written notice, when reasonably prac-
 10 ticable, of any significant vegetation management activity or other
 11 significant activities that impact neighboring properties to impacted
 12 stakeholders in the communities affected by such activities, including
 13 but not limited to (1) the community board or elected representatives
 14 representing all municipalities encompassing land subject to such activ-
 15 ities, (2) county and state elected representatives representing
 16 districts encompassing land subject to such activities or contiguous to
 17 a district that contains areas affected by such activities, (3) the
 18 executive of the county in which such activity occurs, (4) any neighbor-
 19 hood association or similar organiza