BILL NUMBER: S9056A
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to establishing a comprehensive study examining high-
way safety standards and necessary worker protection improvements
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to require the NYS Department of Transporta-
tion conduct a study on how to improve highway worker safety.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Requires that the Department of Transportation conduct a
comprehensive study on highway worker safety.
Section 2: Requires the Department of Transportation to gather feedback
from a wide variety of stakeholders in the field.
Section 3: Establishes that the findings be for study purposes only.
Section 4: Sets a scope for the study.
Section 5: Requires that the final report be completed and released
within one year of the effective date.
Section 6: Provides a definition.
Section 7: Establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Roadway work zones continue to be inherently dangerous for both workers
and motorists. Despite significant strides in recent years to curb the
hazardous behaviors of motorists, work zone incidents persist. In the
year 2025, 354 work zone intrusions occurred, resulting in 33 injuries
and 2 fatalities. In 2024, 322 work zone intrusions were reported,
resulting in 138 injuries. These statistics, provided by the NYSDOT,
demonstrate more must be done to protect workers and motorists. It is
imperative the NYSDOT strive to make work zones less hazardous by engag-
ing stakeholders and conducting a comprehensive study outlining how
roadway work zones can be made safer for the public and the workers
tasked with performing roadwork. All workers deserve to return to their
families each night, and any fatality or injury occurring in a roadway
work zone should be considered unacceptable.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This bill will have no fiscal impact on the State or Local Government.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.