BILL NUMBER: S8349A Revised 06/11/25
SPONSOR: PALUMBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to directing the Department of Transportation to
grant a permanent access and construction easement to the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Department of Transporta-
tion to grant an easement to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(MTA) for the use of certain Department-owned land, to facilitate the
potential future development of a railyard. This action is intended to
support the expansion and enhancement of public rail transit infrastruc-
ture in Suffolk County, thereby improving transportation access and
regional connectivity.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Provides that this act shall be known and may be cited as the
"Furthering Rail Transit in Suffolk County Act"
Section 2. Provides definitions for "DOT", "Greenway" and "MTA" under
this act.
Section 3. Directs the Department of Transportation to grant permanent
access and construction easement to the MTA. This easement must reserve
the Department's right to build any future bridge over the greenway for
realignment or straightening of Route 25A. This easement must also
include a mutual acknowledgement between both parties that the rail yard
development and the Route 25A bridge project can coexist. This section
further outlines the conditions and limitations under this easement.
Section 4. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to consult with
any relevant state or local office, agency or department and to request
or receive information necessary to facilitate the granting of an ease-
ment to the MTA.
Section 5. Establishes the enacting clause.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The expansion and modernization of public rail infrastructure in Suffolk
County is essential to addressing the region's long-term transportation
needs. This legislation facilitates such development by directing the
Department of Transportation (DOT) to grant permanent access and
construction easement to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(MTA). The easement will allow the MTA to access and utilize a portion
of DOT-owned land currently designated as the Setauket-Port Jefferson
Station Greenway for the potential development of a railyard, thereby
enhancing the capacity, efficiency and connectivity of public transit in
the region. An easement is also necessary to further New York State's
green transit goals, better allowing for the electrification of LIRR's
Port Jefferson branch.
To ensure that this easement does not interfere with existing transpor-
tation priorities, the bill expressly preserves the DOT's retained
rights to carry out any future realignment of New York State Route 25A,
including through the construction of a bridge over the Greenway. It
further mandates cooperation between the DOT and the MTA to enable both
projects to proceed concurrently without operational conflict. By estab-
lishing clear terms for coexistence and requiring timely execution of
the easement agreement, the legislation provides a structured legal
framework that advances public transit objectives while maintaining the
integrity of state infrastructure planning.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.