Resolution calling upon the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation prohibiting buses from using streets adjacent to houses of worship or schools for the purposes of layovers, staging, or idling.

Res. No. 137

Resolution calling upon the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation prohibiting buses from using streets adjacent to houses of worship or schools for the purposes of layovers, staging, or idling.

By Council Members Koo, Gentile and Levine

Whereas, There are thousands of schools and houses of worship in New York City; and

Whereas, The City is served by over 4,500 local buses operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), in addition to many express buses and private buses; and

Whereas, In certain communities, buses utilize curbside space near schools or places of worship for layovers and staging; and

Whereas, For example, St. George’s Church in Flushing, Queens is surrounded on two sides by bus stops and by a designated bus layover area on the remaining adjacent street; and

Whereas, Buses using the layover space have raised many concerns among community members, including pollution and noise related to engine idling, as well as problems associated with bus driver loitering; and

Whereas, Schools and houses of worship serve inherently vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation prohibiting buses from using streets adjacent to houses of worship or schools for the purposes of layovers, staging, or idling.

LS#5205

12/10/2013

JM