BILL NUMBER: S1148
SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to enacting the
rider representation act
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation will add four rider representatives to the MTA Board as
voting members.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill names it the "rider representation act."
Sections two and three of this bill amend Public Authorities Law §
1263(1)(a) to add four new voting members. This will increase the total
number of voting members to 20, plus the chairperson. The new voting
members will be rider representatives, with each of the following rider
constituencies getting one vote each: (1) the New York City Transit
(NYCT) Authority Advisory Council, (2) the Metro-North Rail Commuter
Council, (3) the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Commuter Council, and (4)
the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD)
Commissioner, who must consult with external disability advocacy organ-
izations when making their recommendation. The first three seats listed
above are currently advisory, non-voting members of the board who all
share their one non-voting seat in 18-month rotating terms. Sections two
and three also make conforming amendments to § 1263(1)(a) to retain the
non-voting labor representation on the board, in which a non-voting seat
is similarly shared in 18-month rotating terms by the unions represent-
ing the majority of NYCT, Metro-North, and LIRR employees.
Section four of this bill amends Public Authorities Law § 1263(1)(c) to
make conforming amendments to the provisions of this section which state
that the term of any voting board member appointed by a city, state, or
county elected official should expire alongside that of the elected
official who appointed them, the six-year term rule prescribed in §
1263(1)(a)(1) notwithstanding. That same rule will apply to the MOPD
Commissioner's representative, whose term would correspond with that of
the New York City Mayor. This paragraph would not apply, however, to the
other three new members being appointed by riders councils, as they are
not being seated on the recommendation of any elected official.
Sections five, six, seven, eight, and nine make conforming amendments to
section 1263 of Public Authorities Law while amending binary terms to
gender-neutral ones in accordance with Chapter 139 of 2023.
Section ten sets the effective date.
 
EXISTING LAW:
Currently, the MTA Board consists of the chair, 16 voting members, two
non-voting members and four alternate non-voting members. The commuter
council representatives as well as representatives from labor organiza-
tions are non-voting members.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The MTA Board drives the policies and procedures for the entire MTA
system, which includes the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), the
Long Island Rail Road, and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company.
The New York City Transit Authority plays a vital role in transporting
individuals throughout the five boroughs, and the Long Island Rail Road
and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company play vital roles in trans-
porting people who live outside New York City into it.
Unfortunately, the commuter councils for the NYCTA, the LIRR, and the
Metro-North do not have voting membership on the MTA Board. The board
can no longer make decisions without providing its riders with an
adequate voice. This legislation will provide a voice for riders who are
represented by the New York City Transit Authority Advisory Council, the
Metro-North Rail Commuter Council, the Long Island Rail Road Commuter
Council, as well as riders with disabilities, who would be appointed by
the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities in consul-
tation with external disability advocacy organizations.
The MTA network comprises the nation's largest bus fleet and more subway
and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. It
provides over 2.6 billion trips each year, accounting for about one-
third of the nation's mass transit users and two-thirds its commuter
rail passengers. It is safe to say that a significant number of people
rely on the MIA's services. We need to ensure that riders' voices are
heard by giving them a full vote on the MTA board.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S20A - Referred to Transportation
2023: S20 - Referred to Transportation
2022: S2889 - Referred to Transportation
2021: S2889 - Referred to Transportation
2020: S3837A - Referred to Transportation
2019: S3837 - Died in Rules
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1148: 1263 public authorities law, 1263(1) public authorities law, 1263(2) public authorities law, 1263(4) public authorities law