There’s some progress to report today on proposed state legislation that would authorize NYC to more strenuously regulate the intercity bus industry. We hear from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s office that the bill has been passed by the transportation and codes committees. Next step: scheduling a vote of the full Assembly.
In the Senate, the bill has been referred to the transportation committee. Given Republican control, the legislation’s prospects there are less certain. The bill is being pushed through by Silver and Senator Daniel Squadron. It is a response to growing concerns about congestion, safety and pollution on the Lower East Side and Chinatown — as the result of a rapidly expanding discount bus industry. The bill was introduced before two fatal bus crashes this month, but those incidents have heightened the will to act in Albany.
If passed, the legislation would allow the city to set up a permit system for intercity buses. The Department of Transportation is generally supportive of the proposal but has concerns about some of the fine points in the bill.
