Congratulations: Governor Cuomo signed the Bus Permit Bill into Law

Thank you to Assembly Member Dick Gottfried, who helped negotiate a better law and made sure it was signed by the Governor. Thank You also to  TriState Transportation Campaign who lent us critical  support us in Albany. But in the end, YOU did it!  Your letters and activism paid off.

Under the new law, the city now has the power to designate bus stops with community consultation, as well as require bus companies to provide information about the buses they are using, the number of passengers they expect to carry, and where they would be parked when not in use. Violators will face fines of up to $2,500 and the loss of their permit.
“Intercity buses are a lifeline for people and business,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “But intercity bus transportation shouldn’t turn our neighborhood streets into de-facto bus depots. This law will help eliminate this legal blind spot and bring order to the free-for-all on our neighborhood streets and sidewalks.”
In addition to designating bus stops, the legislation would:

• Require that bus permit applications include identification of the intercity bus company, identification of the specific buses to be used, identification of the bus stop location(s) being requested, the total number of buses and passengers expected to use each location, bus schedules, and identification of the places where buses would park when not in use;
• Require the city, prior to assigning an intercity bus stop, to consult with local community boards and the MTA (if an intercity bus stop would overlap with an MTA bus stop), and to consider traffic, safety, and applicant preferences;
• Require that applicants, the local community board and the MTA (if applicable) receive notification prior to an intercity bus stop being relocated;
• Require the city, prior to issuing a permit or permanently amending a permit, to consult with the local community board, including a 45 day notice and comment period;
• Authorize intercity bus stops to be temporarily changed for up to 90 days, with written notice to the local community board no more than 30 days after such temporary amendment;
• Establish that permits would be for terms of up to three years, authorize permit fees (up to $275 per vehicle annually), and require intercity buses to display permits;
• Provide for public involvement through the city’s rulemaking process (including public hearings), and through on-line posting of approved applications and all intercity bus stops;
• Provide for penalties for intercity buses that load or unload passengers on city streets either without a permit or in violation of permit requirements or restrictions (a fine of up to $1,000 for a first violation, up to $2,500 for repeat violations, and suspending or revoking a permit).

For the full text of the law click Here. The law will take effect on December 1st.