Res. No. 50
Title
Resolution calling upon the State of New York to create a process whereby jurisdiction over a particular piece of property in the cities in the State of New York can be clarified upon request.
Body
By Council Member Deutsch
Whereas, Conflicts arise about whether a New York State or, instead, a municipal entity controls a particular piece of property; for instance, a sidewalk near a park may fall under the jurisdiction of the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation or under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Sanitation; and
Whereas, Such uncertainty seems to arise frequently about whether the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) or the city Department of Transportation (DOT) has jurisdiction over a particular piece of property; and
Whereas, According to the New York Public Authorities Law, the MTA has the power to "manage, control and direct the maintenance and operation of transportation facilities, equipment or real property operated by or under contract, lease or other arrangement with the authority and its subsidiaries, and New York city transit authority and its subsidiaries"; and
Whereas, For example, MTA has acted upon its authority to open the 34th Street-Hudson Yards station (the only addition to the NYC subway system in the last 26 years), and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York held the MTA liable for a personal injury suit when a pedestrian tripped and fell on a raised and broken portion of public sidewalk surrounding a vault cover owned by the MTA; and
Whereas, According to the New York City Charter, the DOT commissioner is charged with repairing public roads, streets, highways and parkways; and
Whereas, For example, DOT has asserted its authority over 50 intersections and corridors in New York City to design drastically safer streets through the Office of the Mayor's Vision Zero Action Plan; and
Whereas, Some co...
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