STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                        10176--A
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                     March 22, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A. D. ROSENTHAL, HEVESI, ROZIC, WEPRIN, HYNDMAN,
          BARNWELL, VANEL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK  --  read  once
          and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commis-
          sions  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended, ordered reprinted as
          amended and recommitted to said committee
        AN ACT in relation to directing the metropolitan transportation authori-
          ty to study and  report  on  the  feasibility  of  rehabilitating  the
          Lefferts Boulevard Bridge
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1.   Legislative intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
     2  declares  that the Lefferts Boulevard Bridge is an essential almost 100-
     3  year-old structure in Kew Gardens, Queens that has  been  owned  by  the
     4  MTA/Long  Island  Rail  Road since 1925. The bridge has been an integral
     5  and essential focal point for community life in Kew Gardens for the past
     6  century.  Presently, the bridge is home  to  a  series  of  longstanding
     7  local  businesses, many of which have served the community, and contrib-
     8  uted substantial revenues to the MTA, for  multiple  generations,  while
     9  hard  at  work  in their humble storefronts on top of the bridge. For at
    10  least the past thirty years, the MTA/LIRR has let the bridge deteriorate
    11  to the point where it appears to be structurally compromised due to lack
    12  of attention, investment and proper maintenance.  These  neglectful  and
    13  inattentive  acts  have led the MTA/LIRR to declare that the only option
    14  available as a next course of  action  is  complete  demolition  of  the
    15  bridge.  However,  widespread demolition is unpalatable to the community
    16  for many reasons, including displacement of the businesses,  disposition
    17  of  the  property  and  disruption  to essential quality of life issues.
    18  Furthermore, the affected community  believes  that  rehabilitation  and
    19  reconstruction  of  the  bridge decking is possible and has retained its
    20  own experts to provide evidence to this effect. Additionally,  the  LIRR
    21  also commissioned a 2016 inspection report that indicated, in exhaustive
    22  detail,  the  steps  necessary to repair the present deficiencies of the
    23  bridge, in contrast to demolition.  However, the MTA has yet to consider
    24  these rehabilitative options, which would cost only a fraction of  demo-
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD15211-03-8

        A. 10176--A                         2
     1  lition. Given the vast importance of the future of the bridge, the asso-
     2  ciated  businesses  and public safety, it is in the best interest of all
     3  parties that the MTA undertake a feasibility study of other alternatives
     4  with specific research centering around the impacts, economic and other-
     5  wise, to the affected community.
     6    §  2.  The metropolitan transportation authority shall conduct a study
     7  to examine the feasibility and  impact  of  the  rehabilitation  of  the
     8  Lefferts Boulevard Bridge. Such study shall focus on the costs and bene-
     9  fits of such rehabilitation and shall include, but not be limited to the
    10  following issues:
    11    (a) all feasible alternatives to demolishing the bridge;
    12    (b) the economic impact of all such alternatives;
    13    (c)  a  plan  for  preserving, without interruption, all businesses in
    14  place that currently occupy surface space above the bridge; and
    15    (d) the economic impact to surrounding businesses  if  such  rehabili-
    16  tation does not occur.
    17    §  3.  Within  ninety  days  after the effective date of this act, the
    18  chairman of the metropolitan transportation  authority  shall  submit  a
    19  written  report  to  the  governor,  temporary  president of the senate,
    20  speaker of the assembly and mayor of the city  of  New  York,  with  the
    21  findings  and recommendations of the study conducted pursuant to section
    22  two of this act.
    23    § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.