Requires the department of transportation to conduct a follow up inspection of any freight rail train or freight rail track audit within the state conducted by the federal railroad administration that identifies safety-related deficiencies or violations.
Provides that the department of transportation shall not require a survey as part of an agreement with any fiber optic utility for use and occupancy of a state right of way for the purposes of installing, modifying, relocating, repairing, operating, or maintaining fiber optic facilities as part of the department's consolidated application, when such use and occupancy of the state right of way is utilizing existing infrastructure, including but not limited to aerial pole attachments and underground conduits.
Establishes a state high speed rail planning board; requires the planning board to report to the governor and legislature two years from the effective date with a plan for financing of high speed rail and the organizational entity which would oversee and operate New York's high speed rail program.
Requires the department of transportation to promulgate rules and regulations for the installation of heat safety gauges or hot bearing detectors on freight rail tracks in the state; requires the installation of positive train control systems on all freight trains operated within the state.
Requires the department of transportation to establish a central registry of reports, audits, plans and public inspections regarding freight rail operators, rail cars and freight lines or routes and rights of way.
Requires railroad corporations to inform the division of homeland security and emergency services, department of environmental conservation and department of transportation about freight rail trains transporting hazardous materials prior to traveling on tracks within the state.
Relates to requiring bomb or blast resistant garbage receptacles in facilities of common carriers; provides minimum specifications for such receptacles shall be set by the NYS division of homeland security and emergency services.
Establishes the freight rail safety task force to review the state of freight rail safety in the state and make policy and budgetary recommendations related thereto.
Permits animal-drawn vehicles to equip and use amber flashing lights; does not apply to such vehicles in a city with a population of one million or more.
Relates to paratransit services; directs that an applicant for recertification submit correspondence from a licensed physician in lieu of an in-person assessment.