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Senate panel advances bill to require climb-deterrent fencing on certain bridges after senators cite suicides
Summary
The Senate Transportation Committee reported a bill requiring climb-deterrent fencing on certain bridges and referred it to the finance committee after senators said bridge suicides remain a concern and the Bridge Authority is preparing a public information campaign for the Bear Mountain Bridge.
The New York State Senate Transportation Committee reported a bill requiring the installation of climb-deterrent fencing on certain bridges and referred the measure to the Senate Finance Committee after members said suicides on authority-owned bridges remain a pressing safety concern.
Senate Bill 3053, described at the hearing as "an act to amend the transportation law and the public authorities law in relation to requiring the installation of climb deterrent fencing on certain bridges," was moved by Senator Liu and seconded by Senator Harcombe; the committee then advanced the bill by voice vote and referred it to finance.
Senator Harkin (committee member) urged the committee to place the bill on the agenda, saying, "Suicide has been a serious issue on bridge authority bridges. We had another person held last week off the Bear Mountain Bridge." He told the panel the Bridge Authority had been working "in good faith" but said the legislation was needed "in our back pocket, should progress not advance as rapidly." He also noted the Bridge Authority planned a public information campaign on barriers for the Bear Mountain Bridge.
Committee Chair State Senator Jeremy Cooney recognized the need for the measure and the committee then moved the bill forward. No roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript; members voted by voice.
Less-critical details: the clerk read the bill title on the record and several senators joined the meeting during the discussion. The transcript records the motion, a second and a voice vote with no recorded nay votes; the bill was reported and referred to finance for further consideration.
