File #: Int 0819-2026    Version: * Name: Freight rail expansion.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Economic Development
On agenda: 4/16/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to freight rail expansion
Sponsors: James F. Gennaro
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Summary: This bill would amend section 25-120 of the administrative code by requiring the Department of City Planning and the Department of Small Business Services to include policies and strategies to expand and improve the freight rail network and freight rail usage in the city in industrial development strategic plans produced every eight years that are due after 2025. The bill would also require those same departments to issue an interim rail freight plan to the mayor and the city council at the end of 2026 covering the same topic.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 819, 2. Int. No. 819, 3. April 16, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 819

 

By Council Member Gennaro

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to freight rail expansion

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision b of section 25-120 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 172 for the year 2023, are amended to read as follows:

1. A policy statement regarding the role of the industrial sector in achieving citywide objectives related to energy policy and greenhouse gas emissions; transportation and freight policy including improving supply chain resilience, increasing freight rail operations, and reducing citywide truck traffic and its impacts on disadvantaged communities; siting of city operations or services; workforce development policies; and any related analysis of citywide industrial sector data, economic trends, and growth opportunities and challenges;

2. An overview of policies to support and grow the industrial sector, including but not limited to as-of-right and discretionary city and state financial incentives; city workforce development initiatives; city land use policies; major city capital investments; expansion of the freight rail network and the use of freight rail; and any city policies relating to the impacts of growth of the industrial sector on disadvantaged communities;

§ 2. Subdivision b of section 25-120 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 172 for the year 2023, is amended by adding a new paragraph 6 to read as follows:

6. An identification and description of strategies to expand the freight rail network, modernize existing freight rail assets, improve access to freight rail facilities, and incentivize freight rail operations in the city.

§ 3. Interim freight rail plan. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:

Agency. The term “agency” has the same meaning as set forth in section 1150 of the New York city charter.

City. The term “city” has the same meaning as set forth in section 1150 of the New York city charter.

Contracted entity. The term “contracted entity” has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-821 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

Departments. The term “departments” has the same meaning as set forth in section 25-120 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

Industrial sector. The term “industrial sector” has the same meaning as set forth in section 25-120 of the administrative code of the city of New York.

b. Plan. No later than December 31, 2026, the departments and a contracted entity, in consultation with the department of citywide administrative services, the department of transportation, the office of long-term planning and sustainability, and any other agency as determined by the departments and a contracted entity, shall submit to the mayor and speaker of the council and make publicly available on the city’s website, a plan to increase freight rail operations and expand the freight rail network. Such plan shall include:

1. A policy statement regarding the role of freight rail in the industrial sector in achieving citywide objectives related to energy policy and greenhouse gas emissions; transportation and freight policy including improving supply chain resilience and reducing citywide truck traffic and its impacts on disadvantaged communities; siting of city operations or services; workforce development policies; and any related analysis of citywide industrial sector data, economic trends, and growth opportunities and challenges;

2. An overview of policies to support and grow the industrial sector through the expansion of freight rail operations; and

3. An identification and description of strategies to expand the freight rail network, modernize existing freight rail assets, improve access to freight rail facilities, and incentivize freight rail operations.

§ 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this local law take effect January 1, 2026. Section 3 of this local law takes effect immediately.

FO

LS #18756

05/20/2025 3:30 PM