A 7540: Directs CHIPS funds to be used for the purpose of constructing or maintaining bicycle paths, Greenway trails, and other multi-use trails.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7540 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY April 1, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. McMAHON, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, LUNSFORD, SHIMSKY, KELLES, SANTABARBARA, BORES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to consolidated local high- way assistance payments ("CHIPS") The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 10-c of the highway law, as 2 amended by chapter 20 of the laws of 1983, is amended and a new subdivi- 3 sion 1-a is added to read as follows: 4 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or any other 5 law, and subject to an appropriation made therefor and in accordance 6 with the provisions of this section and with the rules and regulations 7 promulgated by the commissioner in connection therewith, on and after 8 the first day of April, nineteen hundred eighty-two, a consolidated 9 local highway assistance program is hereby established for the purpose 10 of making payments toward the construction, operation and/or maintenance 11 of highways, bridges [and], highway-railroad crossings, bicycle paths, 12 Greenway trails, and other paved trails for non-motorized use that are 13 not on the state highway system. For purposes of this section, such 14 program shall apply to any county, city, town or village highway, bridge 15 [and/or], highway-railroad crossing, bicycle path, Greenway trail, 16 and/or other paved trail for non-motorized use within the state that is 17 not on the state highway system and not under the maintenance and/or 18 operational jurisdiction of the state. Provided, however, that such 19 bicycle paths, Greenway trails, and other paved trails for non-motorized 20 use shall either be within the right of way of, or bisect, transect, 21 begin, or terminate at, a highway right of way that is not on the state 22 highway system and not under the maintenance and/or operational juris- 23 diction of the state. The commissioner shall promulgate all necessary 24 rules and regulations to carry out the program so that an equitable EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09636-02-5 
 A. 7540 2 1 distribution of aid shall be made for the construction, operation and/or 2 maintenance of any county, city, town and village highways, bridges and 3 highway-railroad crossings. 4 1-a. For purposes of this section the following terms shall have the 5 following meanings: 6 (a) "Bicycle path" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined 7 in section one hundred two-b of the vehicle and traffic law. 8 (b) "Greenway trail" shall mean: 9 (i) the trail designated, developed, or caused to be developed pursu- 10 ant to section 44-0121 of the environmental conservation law; or 11 (ii) any shared-use path, including, but not limited to any trail 12 located on former railroad rights-of-way, along utility corridors, or 13 along former canal towpaths, that is separated from roadways and vehicle 14 traffic, and includes a minimum tread width of six feet, a relatively 15 flat, graded surface and/or improved tread, and which can be used for 16 non-motorized transportation and recreation. 17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day 18 after it shall have become a law.