File #: Res 0892-2011    Version: * Name: The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2011. (H.R.873/S.453)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 6/14/2011
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass and for the President to sign H.R. 873 and S.453 entitled “The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2011, which would seek to overhaul and increase the safety of intercity buses.
Sponsors: Margaret S. Chin, James Vacca, Gale A. Brewer, Fernando Cabrera , Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, G. Oliver Koppell, Brad S. Lander, Rosie Mendez, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Deborah L. Rose, Larry B. Seabrook, James G. Van Bramer, Albert Vann, Jumaane D. Williams, Michael C. Nelson, Daniel Dromm , Melissa Mark-Viverito, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Stephen T. Levin, Charles Barron, Elizabeth S. Crowley, Mathieu Eugene, James F. Gennaro, Robert Jackson, Peter A. Koo
Council Member Sponsors: 26
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 10/6/11, 2. Hearing Testimony 10/6/11, 3. Hearing Transcript 10/6/11, 4. Committee Report 12/6/11, 5. Hearing Transcript 12/6/11, 6. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 12-8-11
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/8/2011*Margaret S. Chin City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
12/6/2011*Margaret S. Chin Committee on Transportation Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/6/2011*Margaret S. Chin Committee on Transportation Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
10/6/2011*Margaret S. Chin Committee on Transportation Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/6/2011*Margaret S. Chin Committee on Transportation Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/14/2011*Margaret S. Chin City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/14/2011*Margaret S. Chin City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
Res. No. 892
 
 
Resolution calling on the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass and for the President to sign H.R. 873 and S.453 entitled "The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2011, which would seek to overhaul and increase the safety of intercity buses.
 
 
By Council Members Chin, Vacca, Brewer, Cabrera, Comrie, Fidler, Koppell, Lander, Mendez, Recchia, Rose, Seabrook, Van Bramer, Vann, Williams, Nelson, Dromm, Mark-Viverito, Rodriguez, Levin, Barron, Crowley, Eugene, Gennaro, Jackson and Koo
 
Whereas, According to the American Bus Association, private intercity bus service is one of the fastest growing and most used modes of intercity transportation, and in 2008 private bus companies provided over 760 million passenger trips; and
Whereas, The demand for intercity bus service is projected to increase due to  rising gas prices, the expensive cost of rail travel,  the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the increase in ground time at airports; and
Whereas, The largest growth in intercity bus service comes from low fares, and curbside pick-up and drop off services, and
Whereas, According to a report issued by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, intercity bus travel grew by 24% in 2010; and
Whereas, In 2010, over seventy-five different bus companies operated within New York State and over 2000 buses were leaving New York City each day; and
Whereas, Between 1999 and 2009, the average number of deaths from accidents involving private bus companies was nineteen passengers per year; and
Whereas, Investigations have revealed that the driver involved in the March 15, 2011 crash in the Bronx, was driving illegally because he had given false statements in order to obtain a driver's license; and
Whereas, According to the American Bus Association, there is a lack of procedures in place to determine the validity of a bus driver's license; and
Whereas, In March of 2011, inspectors from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued citations for safety problems to more than one-third of all intercity bus companies that operate in New York State; and
Whereas, Currently there is a companion bill, H.R. 873 and S.453 pending in Congress, which would require buses to have seat belts, stronger windows, crush-resistant roofs and a safety inspections for all new bus companies within the first 18 months after operations begin; and
Whereas, Thr bus accident on March 15, 2011, which took place in the Bronx and resulted in the death of fifteen passengers, brought increased scrutiny onto the industry; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass and for the President to sign H.R. 873 and S.453 entitled "The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2011, which would seek to overhaul and increase the safety of intercity buses.
 
NL
LS #2247
May 31, 2011
8:28am