New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed into law a bill requiring the New York City Transit Authority to release annual reports detailing its efforts to reduce noise throughout the system.
The bill adds language clarifying the Rapid Transit Noise Code and the authority’s responsibility to produce annual noise abatement reports with the goal of reprioritizing noise as a problem.
Since 1982, efforts to reduce noise such as train care screeching, rail clacking, and grease pumps have been implemented to reduce noise levels for transit systems.
“Public transit should enhance New Yorkers’ quality of life, not disturb it,” Hochul said. “This legislation will ensure New York City Transit is prioritizing communities’ concerns as our subways roar back to life and New York’s comeback continues.”
“This noise abatement reporting legislation will accomplish two things–first, letting New Yorkers and legislative leaders know what steps the authority takes on a year-to-year basis to mitigate impacts and second, providing a transparent record of when and where resources are being or will be deployed,” state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens) said. “Our shared goal continues to be that the trains, buses, and rail run on time, in the safest, most efficient, and most community-friendly manner possible.”