Bill > A01619

This bill eliminates the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) previous exemption from environmental quality review standards under Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Currently, the MTA was not required to conduct environmental impact assessments for various transportation-related projects and activities, including planning, design, acquisition, improvement, construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of transportation facilities. The bill removes the language that previously shielded the MTA from these environmental review requirements, meaning the authority will now be subject to the same environmental impact review processes as other public and private entities. Specifically, the bill changes two subdivisions of section 1266 of the Public Authorities Law, removing clauses that exempted the MTA from environmental impact reviews and ensuring that the authority's projects will now be scrutinized for potential environmental consequences. The changes are intended to increase transparency and environmental accountability for transportation infrastructure projects undertaken by the MTA.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1619